Ogun PDP chairman arrest with INEC officials over alleged vote buying stirs controversy ahead Remo federal constituency by-election

The Ogun PDP chairman arrest has stirred controversy ahead of the Remo federal constituency by-election, as security operatives detained Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Abayomi Tella, other party officials, and two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff over alleged vote-buying.

The arrests took place at a hotel in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area, on Saturday.

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In a viral video circulating on social media, the INEC officials a male and a female along with the PDP officers, were seen squatting as they were interrogated by a security operative.

According to the interrogator, intelligence reports had revealed that the INEC officials were given a large sum of money by the party officials to influence the by-election outcome.

He claimed the trail of the alleged transaction led to the arrest of the PDP leaders.

The male INEC official admitted on camera that he had been instructed by his supervisor to collect the cash from politicians.

However, PDP chairman Abayomi Tella denied any wrongdoing, saying, “You are just showing money; I don’t know anything about it.”

The incident has raised fresh concerns about the credibility of the electoral process in Ogun State, with many awaiting an official statement from both INEC and security agencies.

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As the by-election commences, the Ogun PDP chairman arrest underscores the growing tension and scrutiny over vote-buying practices in Nigeria’s electoral system.