Lawmaker, 146 arrested for alleged voter importation in Osun

Police in Nigeria's Osun State have arrested a serving state lawmaker and over 140 suspected political thugs for allegedly attempting to import voters into the state ahead of the gubernatorial election. The operation targeted Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, a member of the State House of Assembly representing the Accord Party, in the early hours of Saturday, August 15, 2026.

The arrests were confirmed by the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi. He stated that operatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) apprehended Inaolaji and 146 suspects at a residence in Ikire, within the Irewole Local Government Area. The police described the suspects as "electoral mercenaries" allegedly camped at the property to participate in the ongoing election.

According to officials, the operation was part of intensified security measures designed to prevent activities that could undermine the credibility of the electoral process. Police reported recovering at least 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during the raid. A viral video from the scene showed security operatives confronting the lawmaker at the residence, which he identified as...