On Wednesday, the Ondo State Police Command announced the arrest of two individuals who were found in possession of an unauthorized register belonging to the All Progressives Congress.
This incident occurred just a few days prior to the scheduled governorship primary of the ruling party, set to take place on Saturday, April 20.
Notably, the APC governorship primary is slated for April 20, and the party has cleared all 16 aspirants for participation in the forthcoming primary.
According to a statement released by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, the suspects were apprehended in their hideouts with a booklet containing a list of party members.
Odunlami mentioned that the suspects are cooperating with the authorities by providing valuable information to aid in the apprehension of other possible individuals involved in similar activities.
She stated, ” An intelligence report received on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, alerted the police about Mr. Ariyo, a transporter in Ondo town suspected of registering APC Party members at his residence ahead of the upcoming party primaries scheduled for April 20, 2024
“Officers from Yaba Divisional Headquarters in Ondo town led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police conducted a search at the residence and confiscated various items.”
Included among the items discovered in the possession of the suspects were APC party’s registration booklets, a list of alleged party members from Ward 7 in Ondo, and 53 passport photographs of different individuals.
Furthermore, there were notebooks containing names, two exercise books with names and phone numbers, as well as two completed registration forms.
“Two suspects are currently in custody and are providing the police with crucial information to apprehend others involved in these illicit activities,” stated the PPRO.
The statement also highlighted the stance of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abayomi Oladipo, who urged all political aspirants to caution their supporters to prevent any actions that could lead to unrest in the state.
He also instructed a stringent crackdown on any individuals inciting violence, emphasizing that the police have increased their presence across the state to ensure the safety of residents and property, as well as the orderly conduct of the party primaries.