Popular lawmaker arrested
Police authorities in Osun State have arrested Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, a member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, alongside about 146 people found at his residence in Ikire during the ongoing governorship election.
The arrests were carried out by operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Intelligence Response Team in the early hours of Saturday, August 15, 2026, following concerns over the large number of people gathered at the lawmaker’s private residence on election day.
The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the development, saying the lawmaker was taken into custody over allegations that he was keeping suspected mercenaries at the residence.
A video that circulated on social media showed police officers questioning Ibrahim at the property after they encountered the large group of people. The number of individuals at the residence reportedly raised concerns among security operatives, leading to the intervention and subsequent arrests.
During the questioning, Ibrahim explained that the people at the residence were voters who had come to participate in the governorship election. He also indicated that some of them were indigenes of the area who had travelled from other locations to vote.
The lawmaker, who is a member of the Accord Party, denied organising or hiring the people for any illegal purpose. He also said he had not promised them money or other benefits in exchange for their participation in the election.
Despite the explanation, the police proceeded with the arrests and took the lawmaker and the other individuals into custody for further investigation.
The development comes as voting, sorting and counting continue across Osun State, with security agencies closely monitoring activities at polling units and other locations amid concerns over possible attempts to influence the electoral process.
The police have not disclosed the identities of the 146 people arrested or stated what specific offences they may face. Further details are expected as investigations into the incident continue.
