Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, says the command has opened an investigation into the alleged arrest of the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abayomi Tella, alongside two officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Toryem Joe-Stans and Mandara Amina Mamman, in Iperu Remo on Saturday morning.
The trio was reportedly found in possession of a large sum of money suspected to be intended for vote buying during the ongoing Remo Federal Constituency bye-election.
Ogunlowo confirmed that the police are reviewing the incident, which was captured in a viral video showing the arrest of the PDP chairman, the INEC staff, and others.
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.”
