The Ademola Adeleke campaign organisation and the Osun State Government accused the security agency of targeting opposition figures and intimidating government officials, an allegation the police denied as baseless.
The police said the suspects were arrested during an operation at Igbalaiye's residence in Osogbo, where they claimed to have recovered a sum of 4,810,500 Naira, two voter cards, a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15 and other items suspected to be linked to electoral offences.
The police stated that among those arrested at the SSG's residence was Oladele Abiodun, a suspect on their watchlist in connection with alleged criminal offences, who was found hibernating at the location.
The Command's Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, in a statement obtained in Osogbo, said two Permanent Voter Cards, a voter register, a Dynabook laptop, one photocopy machine and one printer were recovered from Igbalaiye's residence.
Others arrested alongside Igbalaiye were Akande Taiwo, 60 years, Adeyemo Lukman, 45 years, Olaoye Muftau, 50 years, and Aderemi Musliu, 40 years, all of whom were at the residence at the time of the raid.
The PPRO said a police team acting on credible and actionable intelligence that some criminal gangs were hibernating around Oroki Estate Area of Osogbo carried out a lawful operation and apprehended the suspects.
He said the exhibits have been secured and are currently in police custody for detailed examination and further investigation, with forensic analysis of the laptop and photocopy machine underway.
According to the police, the recovery of the cash and the register containing voter details raises concerns regarding possible electoral offences and other activities under investigation, including alleged voter inducement contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted person.
The Command emphasised that the allegations have far-reaching implications for public security, administration of justice and the credibility of the democratic process in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
It said investigations are being intensified to identify all persons connected with the recovered exhibits, establish the source and intended use of the recovered funds and determine the full extent of any alleged criminal activity.
The Osun Command declared that no individual, irrespective of social status, political affiliation or public office, is above the law in Nigeria, adding that any person found culpable at the conclusion of investigations would be prosecuted in accordance with the constitution.
DailyVista247 gathered that the raid on the SSG's residence has deepened political tension in Osun, with both the state government and the Adeleke campaign alleging a coordinated clampdown on officials ahead of the polls.
The Osun State Government, however, in a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, alleged that the SSG's residence was entered by a combined team of police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner for Operations without a proper search warrant.
Alimi claimed that family members of the SSG were arrested and that similar operations had taken place at the residences of about six commissioners and other top functionaries of the government in Osun State.
He said as at the time the operation took place, the SSG was attending the stakeholders forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Osogbo before his arrest.
Also, the Adeleke campaign team on Wednesday demanded the immediate release of supporters arrested by the police, alleging that more than 86 members had been arrested across Osun State and detained without lawful basis.
The campaign's spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, who addressed journalists after a visit to the Force Intelligence Response Team headquarters in Abuja, alleged that 36 of the detainees had been taken to Keffi Correctional Centre while 14 others were taken to Kuje, despite not being charged.
The Osun State Police Command, however, dismissed the allegations, insisting that only six suspects were arrested and that they were all adults apprehended based on credible intelligence, with Igbalaiye later released after 24 hours in detention.
