How Police Commissioner Ordered SSG’s Arrest During INEC Meeting — Speaker

Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Olumide Egbedun, has accused the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, of ordering the arrest of Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye, during an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ meeting.

The allegation follows the arrest of Igbalaye and several others by operatives of the Osun State Police Command during an investigation into alleged vote-buying activities in Osogbo.

Police had earlier said the arrests were made after intelligence reports pointed to the activities of a suspected criminal group operating around the Oroki Estate area of the state capital. Officers also recovered cash, electoral materials and other items during the operation.

Giving his account in a statement shared on his X handle, Egbedun claimed he attended the INEC stakeholders’ meeting alongside the Deputy Governor and the SSG, where they remained together throughout the event.

According to the Speaker, the police commissioner was booed by some participants while addressing the gathering. He alleged that shortly after returning to his seat, the commissioner made several phone calls after noticing Igbalaye laughing.

Egbedun said he immediately suspected that the calls were connected to the SSG and warned him that an arrest had likely been ordered. A few minutes later, Igbalaye reportedly received information that police officers were waiting at his residence, prompting him to leave the meeting.

The Speaker added that the SSG later informed him he had been invited to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over claims that police recovered about N4 million and two voter cards belonging to members of his political party who were meeting within his compound.

Egbedun questioned the basis for linking the SSG to the alleged items and argued that the allegation did not justify inviting or attempting to arrest a senior government official.

The Speaker also alleged that he had previously been targeted by the police commissioner. He claimed that despite intelligence about an alleged plot by political thugs to attack his residence, the commissioner directed all police officers attached to him to report to his office, leaving him exposed.

He said he rejected advice to leave the state for safety, insisting that he would remain in Osun despite what he described as attempts to intimidate him.

Egbedun further alleged that some police officers had been planning to implicate and arrest him, adding that he remained confident that justice would prevail.

He appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to intervene, urging the police leadership to ensure that Osun residents receive impartial and professional policing ahead of the governorship election