In a dramatic turn of events ahead of Ogun State’s by-election, security agents on Saturday arrested several suspects including purported INEC officials caught with a large amount of cash suspected to be linked to a vote-buying scheme.

The arrests took place at a hotel in Iperu-Remo, within Ikenne Local Government Area, where security operatives apprehended the suspects. Among them was a politician accused of masterminding a vote-buying operation aimed at manipulating the outcome of the by-election.

A viral video circulating on social media captured the moment two individuals a man and a woman believed to be INEC officials, were seen squatting as security operatives interrogated them. While their identities have not been officially confirmed, sources suggest they are employees of the electoral commission.

In addition to the suspected INEC officials, several individuals believed to be members or agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were also found at the hotel and taken into custody for questioning.

While being questioned, one of the security operatives revealed that the arrests followed actionable intelligence. According to him, investigations showed that the suspected INEC officials had been contacted in advance and allegedly received a large sum of money from party representatives to carry out vote-buying during the by-election.

“The operatives acted on intelligence reports indicating that some INEC officials had been compromised and were collaborating with political parties to manipulate the election process,” the officer said. “Our team moved swiftly to apprehend those involved and recover the funds meant for vote buying.”

While the precise amount of money recovered hasn’t been revealed, witnesses described it as a “substantial sum.” Security agencies are continuing their investigation to uncover the full scale of the alleged vote-buying operation and to identify any other officials or political figures who may be connected to the scheme.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has yet to release an official statement regarding the arrests, but the incident has sparked widespread concern about the integrity of the forthcoming by-election in Ogun State.

Election observers and civil society groups have denounced the suspected collusion, demanding a full and transparent probe to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and guarantee a free and fair by-election.