By Peace Udugba
– – – Says cash was not for vote buying, describes police raid as politically motivated
A Senior Special Adviser to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Comrade Funmiso Babarinde, has defended the N4.8 million recovered by police during a raid on the residence of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye, insisting the money was intended for an empowerment programme and not vote buying.
Babarinde made the clarification on Thursday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, while reacting to the controversy surrounding the police operation at the SSG’s residence ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
According to him, the police operation took place while the SSG was attending a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where key political actors met with the electoral body.
He alleged that police operatives stormed the SSG’s residence during the meeting and arrested several party canvassers who had gathered there.
Babarinde said Igbalaye later drove to the Osun State Police Command headquarters after receiving information about the raid in an attempt to secure the release of those arrested but was himself detained on arrival.
He further disclosed that police recovered N4.8 million in cash, voter registers for Osogbo Local Government Area, two voter cards, a laptop and a printer from the residence during the operation.
According to him, the voter registers were public documents obtained from INEC and were being reproduced for party canvassers assigned to mobilise voters across the 15 electoral wards in Osogbo Local Government Area.
He maintained that there was nothing unlawful about possessing or reproducing the registers, describing them as public documents legally available to political parties.
Babarinde also said the police informed party officials that some individuals they had been searching for were among those arrested during the raid. He added that while several of the detainees had been released, others remained in police custody as of Thursday morning.
He revealed that the party had concluded plans to stage a peaceful protest and address a press conference to draw public attention to what it described as the unfolding situation in the state.
Defending the cash recovered from the residence, Babarinde dismissed claims that it was intended for vote buying, insisting it had been set aside for an empowerment programme for party members.
He argued that N4.8 million was not an unusual amount for an official occupying the office of the Secretary to the State Government and noted that empowerment initiatives are common among public office holders.
“Is N4.8 million too much money for a whole Secretary to the State Government? The money was meant for empowerment.
If you want to give people N10,000 each, that is what it was meant for. Everybody is doing empowerment—the Federal Government, the First Lady, senators and members of the House of Representatives. Why should it become an offence?” he said.
Babarinde further questioned allegations of vote buying, arguing that the individuals present at the SSG’s residence were party supporters rather than voters being induced.
“If you are going to buy votes, do you buy votes from your own party members? These were his supporters gathered in his house. He is the political leader of his local government and it is normal for party members to meet there,” he added.
He maintained that no electoral offence had been committed and accused security operatives of portraying legitimate political activities as criminal acts.
The controversy comes amid heightened political tension in Osun State as political parties intensify campaigns ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
