INEC staff, NYSC member arrested for alleged electoral malpractice in Osun

Two staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been arrested by the Police in Osu, Atakunmosa West Local Government Area of Osun State.

The State Police Spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, said the trio of Orji Desmond Ikenna, 29, Makanjuola Bilahu, 58 and Oluwatobi Oginni, 32, were arrested after a formal complaint was reported at the Osu Division on Wednesday, June 30, 2022.

Opalola stated that the suspects had 38 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in their possession and allegedly colluded with Wale Ojo and Ijamakinwa Olaoluwa, both Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, for unknown financial transactions.

The PPRO explained that the three INEC staff were arrested to investigate the level of their involvement while the Police were on the trail of the fleeing suspects.

The statement read, “On 30th June, 2022 at about 1040hrs, the complainant reported at Osu Division that, on 29th June, 2022, at about 1000hrs, he went to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), office located at Atakumosa West Local Government Area, Osu, Osun State to collect his permanent Voter’s Card but could not find it.

“He consequently demanded for the register and discovered that, one Orji Desmond Nkenna, a corps member attached to INEC office as an ad-hoc staff in charge of voter’s card distribution has collected his PVC on the order of one Wale Ojo and Ijamakinwa Olaoluwa now at large both members of People Democratic Party (PDP) for financial transaction.

“On receipt of the complaint, police detective immediately swung into action and arrested the principal suspect along with the INEC supervisor to the alleged corps member Mrs Makanjuola Bilahu ‘f’ aged 58 years and one Mr. Oluwatobi Ogini ‘m’ aged 32 years to investigate the level of their involvement.

“Meanwhile, the police are on the trail of the fleeing suspects.

“The suspects will be charged to court after the completion of investigation.”