By John Dike, Osogbo
The Director-General of the Accord Party Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi, has alleged the arrest of 52 voters at the residence of the lawmaker representing Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, Ibrahim Inaolaji, describing the development as an act of intimidation and harassment ahead of the Osun State governorship election.
Our correspondent observed that the police operatives reportedly arrested scores of people at Inaolaji’s residence in the early hours of Saturday, with the lawmaker allegedly found in possession of their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Oyewumi, who addressed journalists at Unit 9, SS Peter and Paul Sumoye Primary School, Ikire, said about 24 policemen stormed the lawmaker’s residence around midnight, allegedly destroyed the gate and arrested about 52 people, including the Accord Party chairman in the local government.
He alleged that the incident was part of a series of arrests targeted at members and supporters of the Accord Party ahead of the election.
Oyewumi said, “It is very, very unfortunate what we witnessed here. The whole drama started in the midnight when about 24 policemen stormed the house of our House of Assembly member, Ibrahim Inaolaji.
“The Inaolaji family is a very big family and they reside in Ibadan. Since their son is the Honourable member, they used to come and register in Irewole Local Government.
“They were all around in his house, eating and drinking. The policemen just stormed the house, destroyed the gate and arrested about 52 people there, including the local government chairman of Accord. They are in Osogbo, as we speak.”
The Accord campaign DG further alleged that the party’s Ward 6 chairman and a prominent youth leader had earlier been arrested and taken to Osogbo.
“Four days ago, they arrested the chairman of Accord in Ward 6. Six days ago, they arrested one of our very prominent youth leaders. All those ones are in Osogbo now, languishing there without any reasonable offence, just to make sure that they are not at home during the election,” he alleged.
Oyewumi also alleged that violence erupted at some polling units in Ikire shortly after voting commenced, accusing suspected thugs of attacking Accord Party agents and voters.
According to him, the first incident occurred at Orieru Polling Unit in Ward 1, where suspected thugs allegedly attacked and beat an Accord Party agent before moving to other polling units.
He further alleged that the group proceeded to St. Joseph Primary School 1 and 2, where another voter was allegedly beaten and taken away on a motorcycle before reportedly being returned about 20 minutes later.
Oyewumi said he had contacted police and military authorities over the alleged incidents, expressing concern over what he described as the failure of security personnel to prevent the attacks.
He called on security agencies to ensure the safety of voters and party agents and provide a level playing field for all candidates participating in the election.
