The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Olumide Egbedun, has alleged that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, personally ordered the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye, during an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ meeting.

The allegation follows the arrest of Igbalaye and five others by the Osun State Police Command on Wednesday over alleged electoral offences.

The police said the arrests were made during an operation in Osogbo, where officers recovered N4.81 million, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register and other items believed to be linked to vote-buying and related electoral offences.

According to the command, the operation was carried out after it received credible intelligence that criminal elements were operating around the Oroki Estate area of Osogbo.

However, in a statement posted on his official X handle on Thursday, Egbedun described the incident as an abuse of power and accused the police commissioner of using his office to intimidate political opponents.

He claimed that he, the Deputy Governor and the SSG were attending an INEC stakeholders’ meeting when the commissioner was allegedly booed by members of the public.

“The Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, and I were all present at the INEC Stakeholders’ Meeting, where we sat together throughout the proceedings.

“We all witnessed the unfortunate moment when Commissioner Gotan was booed while on the podium by citizens of Osun State. Immediately he returned to his seat, he looked directly towards us. At that moment, the SSG laughed.

“The next thing I observed was Commissioner Gotan picking up his telephone and making a series of calls. From what I saw, I turned to the SSG and said, ‘The Commissioner of Police has just ordered your arrest,'” Egbedun alleged.

The Speaker said Igbalaye later received a telephone call informing him that police officers were waiting at his residence, prompting him to leave the meeting.

According to Egbedun, the SSG later informed him that he had been invited to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) after police allegedly recovered N4 million and two voter cards belonging to members of his political party who were holding a meeting within his compound.

“I honestly do not understand how such an allegation justified inviting, or attempting to arrest, a public official of his standing,” he said.

Egbedun also alleged that the police commissioner had previously attempted to compromise his security by directing police officers attached to him to report to the commissioner’s office despite intelligence about a planned attack on his residence.

“I immediately telephoned the commissioner and told him that I am a proud son of Onikoyi, and that I neither fear nor bow to intimidation. I made it abundantly clear that I would never abandon my state or my ancestral home because of anyone,” he said.

The Speaker further claimed that he had received information suggesting that some police officers were plotting to implicate and arrest him, but insisted he would not leave the state out of fear.

He appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to intervene, alleging that the leadership of the Osun State Police Command had subjected residents to intimidation and hardship.

“I therefore make a sincere appeal to the Inspector General of Police to urgently intervene and relieve the people of Osun State of what I consider the hardship and intimidation they have endured under the leadership of Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan. The people of Osun are peaceful, law-abiding citizens who deserve policing that is professional, impartial and respectful of the rule of law,” Egbedun said.

The police have maintained that the arrests were based on credible intelligence and that investigations into the alleged electoral offences are ongoing.