Police Probe Vote Buying Allegations in Ogun By-Election

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has said that the command is investigating the purported arrest of the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Abayomi Tella, and two staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Toryem Joe-Stans, and Mandara Amina Mamman, at Iperu Remo in the early hours of Saturday.

They were said to have been caught with a huge amount of money suspected to be for vote buying in the ongoing Remo Federal Constituency by-election.

Ogunlowo disclosed this to our correspondent when asked to confirm the content of a viral video showing the arrest of the PDP State Chairman, the two INEC staff, and some other people.

The CP said, “We are investigating the matter, that’s how much I can say for now.

“You may please call back later in the day for further information.”

A voice accompanying the video said, “At the early hours of today, August 16, 2025, these people including two INEC staff were arrested. The INEC staff were posted here for the House of Representatives by-election for Remo Federal Constituency.

“Rather than doing the right thing, they were found hobnobbing with the politicians and this huge amount of money was found on the INEC man who claimed to have been contacted by his Constituency Supervisor to go and meet the politician.

“They are already giving police useful information on this case. The INEC man said that the people that gave him the money were in a hotel at Iperu Remo, and these three people; Jonathan, Akeem Oyinlola and Abayomi Tella were met in the hotel.”

However, Tella, the PDP Chairman, in the video instantly distanced himself from the purported money found with the INEC staff, saying, “I don’t know anything about this money you’re talking about and I am still waiting for you (the police) to tell me why I am here.”