Mayhem in Ogun : Area commander, 4 others feared dead

Four National Assembly members, including the chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Gbenga Oguniya, were yesterday arrested by the police in Ondo State for allegedly disrupting the bye-election in Akoko South East and South West federal constituency.
Other lawmakers arrested were the Vice Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, Hon. Temitayo Fawehinmi and Hon. Kehinde Adedeji.

They were arrested by the Assistant Police Commissioner (Operations), Mr Tunde Gbolaranmi, in a convoy of two Peugeot 407 cars, two Peugeot 406 and two buses at Ward Six, Owolaja, in Oka.

Also arrested were 20 thugs reportedly hired from Kogi State and 20 mobile policemen.
At the time of filing this report, they were being detained at the Oka Divisional police headquarters.

Six ballot boxes stuffed with fake ballot papers and several dangerous weapons were also allegedly recovered from the National Assembly members.
An Assistant Inspector General, Mr Mukhtar Abass, who came from Abuja to monitor the election, confirmed that Oguniya and the Rep members were being interrogated by the police, adding that he was posted to the state to ensure the election was hitch-free.
When contacted, the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Dr Omotayo Dairo, said the National Assembly members were doing what the Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, was doing at the police station.
Dairo said if Oguniya was arrested, the deputy governor was also in detention.

The election was, however, peaceful in all the wards and areas visited by our correspondent.
There was massive turnout of voters in Akungba, Supare, Oka and other towns.
There was also heavy presence of security operatives at every polling unit to prevent breakdown of law and order.
The deputy governor commended the people for the peaceful conduct of the election.

He said the turnout showed that if elections were properly conducted, the right candidate would always emerge.
Also speaking, a chieftain of the Action Congress in the state, Dr Tunji Abayomi, said political office holders should be barred from using their office to intimidate the electorate.