The Ondo State Police Command made a significant breakthrough on Wednesday by apprehending two individuals involved in the illegal registration of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in preparation for the party’s upcoming governorship primaries on April 20.
The suspects were caught red-handed with APC registration booklets, a list of supposed party members from Ward 7 in Ondo, and passport photographs of various individuals. This discovery came after concerns were raised by seven governorship aspirants within the APC about potential efforts to produce fake membership cards to sway the outcome of the primaries.
The arrest took place at the residence of Ariyo, a transporter based in Ondo town, the headquarters of the Ondo West Local Government Area. The Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo State, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, revealed that the suspects were apprehended based on a tip-off received by detectives.
Odunlami-Omisanya emphasized that the police have launched an investigation to uncover the full extent of the illicit activities and identify any other individuals involved in the scheme. She also stated that Commissioner of Police Abayomi Oladipo has instructed a thorough crackdown on wrongdoers, regardless of their affiliations, to ensure the safety of lives and property and maintain peace during the party primaries.
This swift action by the Ondo State Police Command serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the integrity of political processes and preventing fraudulent activities that could undermine the democratic principles of fair elections. It also highlights the commitment of law enforcement authorities to maintain order and security in the state during crucial political events.