#OsunDecides2026: Police Reportedly Arrest 146 Suspected Thugs In Accord Party House Of Assembly Member’s House | Sahara Reporters

The arrests reportedly occurred on Saturday, August 15, 2026, as voting commenced across Osun State, with authorities investigating allegations that the 146 individuals were moved into the state to participate in the election.

The police have reportedly arrested 146 suspected thugs and an Accord Party member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim, in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state, amid heightened security operations during Saturday’s governorship election.

The arrests reportedly occurred on Saturday, August 15, 2026, as voting commenced across Osun State, with authorities investigating allegations that the 146 individuals were moved into the state to participate in the election.

According to a report by The Nation, Ibrahim, who represents the Irewole-Isoko Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, was arrested alongside the suspected voters.

The report said the lawmaker and the 146 individuals were subsequently handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

Ibrahim was reportedly questioned by the police over the circumstances surrounding the presence of the large group in Ikire and their alleged intention to participate in the election.

According to the report, the lawmaker allegedly told the police during preliminary questioning that the 146 people had been brought into Ikire to vote for the Accord Party.

The allegation has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the movement of the group, including who facilitated their transportation into Ikire, their places of origin and the specific polling units where they were allegedly expected to vote.

As of the time of filing this report, the police had not publicly provided further details on the identities of the 146 individuals or disclosed whether they had been formally charged with any electoral offence.

The reported arrest of the Accord lawmaker comes amid heightened political tension and increased security presence across Osun State as voters head to polling units to elect the next governor.

Security agencies have been under pressure to prevent incidents of voter intimidation, electoral malpractice, violence and other activities capable of undermining the credibility of the poll.

The development is particularly significant against the backdrop of allegations by political actors and groups of attempts to manipulate the electoral process through the movement of supporters and alleged mobilisation of thugs.

Concerns over voter inducement, illegal voter movement and the deployment of political thugs have featured prominently in the build-up to the election, with authorities repeatedly warning against actions capable of disrupting voting or influencing voters through intimidation.

The arrest of Ibrahim, a serving state lawmaker and member of the Accord Party, could further heighten political tensions in Irewole Local Government Area, particularly as the circumstances surrounding the alleged movement of the 146 individuals remain under investigation.

The police are expected to establish whether the individuals were eligible voters in the affected area and whether their alleged movement into Ikire was connected to an organised attempt to influence the outcome of the governorship election.

The identities and political affiliations of the 146 individuals could not be independently verified from the available report.

Authorities are expected to provide further clarification as investigations continue into the alleged movement of voters and the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the Accord Party lawmaker.