The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, has alleged that voters are being intimidated and prevented from voting in Ifewara, Osun State.
According to a “firsthand report” on the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID)’s Situation Room, Mr Salaam said the incident involved a group linked to Babatunde Komolafe, an All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidate.
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Mr Salaam alleged that the group was forcefully collecting voters’ cards and breaking them to prevent the affected voters from casting their ballots.
“They do that by forcefully collecting voter cards from the voters and breaking them so that they won’t vote,” Mr Salaam said.
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He also alleged that the group came with “an instrument of intimidation, which is thuggery.”
Mr Salaam said the group included Mr Komolafe, whom he described as a three-time member of the Osun State House of Assembly.
He said the lawmaker and others in the group were arrested on Thursday after a navy officer allegedly found a gun in their campaign vehicle, but were released on Friday. He alleged that the same group was causing trouble in Ifewara during the election.
The allegation comes after the Imole Campaign Council of Governor Ademola Adeleke condemned the reported release of Mr Komolafe.
Vanguard reported on Friday that the campaign council said Mr Komolafe and his supporters were arrested by naval personnel in Ifewara after a gun was allegedly found during a search of an APC campaign vehicle.
The council also alleged that the suspects were released following pressure from senior APC figures.
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It praised the Nigerian Navy for what it described as professionalism and neutrality during the election period, but said the reported release of a suspect allegedly found with an unauthorised firearm was unacceptable.
Other reports also said Mr Komolafe was released after his arrest, although the circumstances surrounding the release were not officially confirmed by the Nigerian Navy.
Mr Salaam’s allegation that the same group was involved in intimidating voters and destroying voters’ cards in Ifewara could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
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