By PulseDaily News Desk
Published: August 16, 2025
Source: PulseDaily.com.ng
Security operatives in Ogun State have arrested some officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside two staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over alleged possession of a large sum of money suspected to be linked to vote buying during the ongoing by-election in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area.
According to a viral video circulating on social media, the INEC staff — a male and a female — were seen alongside PDP officials being interrogated by security personnel at a hotel in Iperu-Remo.
An unidentified interrogator in the video alleged that intelligence reports revealed the INEC officers had been contacted and offered money by PDP officials for electoral malpractice. The arrest of the electoral officers reportedly led to the capture of the PDP officials at the same location.
One of the INEC officials claimed he was instructed by his supervisor to collect the cash from party representatives. However, a PDP state officer, also seen in the footage, denied any involvement, insisting he knew nothing about the money shown.
The Ogun State PDP has strongly condemned the arrests, describing them as a deliberate attempt to intimidate opposition members ahead of the by-election.
In a statement, the party’s Director of Media and Communications, Asiwaju Akinloye Bankole, alleged that PDP chairman Sikirulahi Ogundele (Tella) was picked up in a “commando-style operation” around 3:30am while relaxing in his hotel room.
Bankole insisted no electoral materials or suspicious cash were found in the chairman’s possession, claiming he only had ₦100,000 on him. He further dissociated the chairman from the arrested INEC staff, stressing that it was “practically impossible” for him to share the same hotel with them.
“This is nothing but a ploy to disenfranchise our supporters and manipulate the electoral process,” Bankole stated.
Reacting to the incident, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, confirmed the arrests but noted that investigations were still ongoing.
“We are investigating the matter. That’s how much I can say for now,” Ogunlowo told reporters.
The development has heightened political tension in the state as voters continue to cast their ballots in the Remo Federal Constituency by-election.
