OsunDecides2026: Police Question Lawmaker After 146 Voters Gather at Ikire Residence

Security operatives on Saturday questioned a member of the Osun State House of Assembly after about 146 people were found gathered at a private residence in Ikire during the governorship election.

The lawmaker, Abiola Ibrahim, represents Irewole/Isokan Constituency in the state assembly.

A video circulating online showed armed police officers speaking with Ibrahim at the property, identified by the lawmaker as the residence of his late father, Raji Ibrahim.

The large group was seen inside the premises as the officers sought an explanation for their presence on election day. Ibrahim told the officers that the people were voters participating in the governorship election.

When questioned about whether they were residents of the Ikire area, the lawmaker acknowledged that the group included both local residents and people from outside the community.

He also said he had neither hired the individuals nor promised them anything. The lawmaker further stated that voting was the choice of the individuals and denied acting as their agent.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the video did not show the lawmaker or the people at the residence being found with cash, weapons, inducement materials or other sensitive electoral materials.

The footage also did not establish that the gathering was a vote-buying operation.

The presence of the voters at the residence, rather than any recovered money or inducement material, was the apparent reason for the police questioning.

Ibrahim was seen holding Permanent Voter Cards belonging to some of the people at the residence.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the incident occurred against the backdrop of heightened security operations across Osun as voters cast ballots in the state’s governorship election.

The Nigeria Police Force had deployed senior officers for the election and warned against voter intimidation, political violence, illegal mobilisation and other electoral offences.

The gathering therefore attracted security attention because of its size and timing, particularly as voting was already underway across the state.

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However, the available footage does not establish that those present had committed an electoral offence.

The incident comes as voters in all 30 local government areas participate in an election featuring Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and ADC candidate Najeem Salaam among the major contenders.

The election is being closely watched ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with security agencies under pressure to prevent violence and other forms of electoral malpractice.

For now, the central fact from the Ikire incident is that a large group of voters was questioned by security operatives at a private residence.

Any further allegation of electoral wrongdoing would require evidence beyond the gathering itself.