Police Allegedly Arrest PDP Chairman, INEC Officials with Cash in Ogun

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have reportedly arrested a ward chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ogun State for alleged electoral misconduct. The arrests were made on Saturday during the ongoing by-elections in the state.

While the identities of the arrested individuals and the exact amount of cash found with them have not been officially confirmed, the arrests are widely believed to be connected to vote-buying, a practice that has long plagued Nigeria’s electoral process.

The incident is a significant development in the by-election for the Ijebu-East State Constituency seat, which has been under strict security watch by the police. The arrests underscore the challenges faced by electoral and security agencies in curbing the use of illicit money to influence voters.

The police command and INEC have yet to release a detailed statement on the matter. The arrest, however, highlights the resolve of security agencies to combat electoral offenses, a promise made by the police ahead of the by-elections. This is not the first time security agencies have made such arrests; during previous elections, the police confirmed the arrest of a significant number of people for various forms of misconduct.

The unfolding situation in Ogun State is a testament to the persistent issue of electoral malpractices and the continuous effort by law enforcement to ensure the credibility of the voting process.