The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the probe of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the State, Yemi Sanusi over allegation of deploying N5b for vote buying during the March 18 election in the State.

The IGP’s order, directed to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, was contained in a letter dated 8th May, 2023 with reference number, 7000/IGP.SEC./ABJ/VOL.628/50 and signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IGP, CSP Idris Abdullahi Abubakar.

“Attached herewith is a copy of letter dated 2nd May 2023 received from Ehi Uwaifoh & Co, on the above-underlined subject. The Inspector-General of police directs that you deal with the complaint and report findings,” the letter read.

The People’s Democratic Party, had through its lawyer, Ehi Uwaifoh & Co, petitioned the IGP over vote buying, snatching and destruction of ballot boxes, thuggery and gun running allegations against the Governor, the party and its leadership.

In the petition against Abiodun, Sanusi and the party, a copy of which was obtained by HorizonTimes, the PDP alleged that the party and its agents, before the election, embarked on voters’ inducements by distributing N5,000 cash in government official envelopes to the electorate in Ogun State, ‘to induce them to vote for him at the general election.’

“The video of this vote buying, and voters’ inducement was widely circulated in the social media. This was at the height of the Naira design controversy. When the beneficiaries complained that they were being given old notes, the agents of the governor assured them that the governor was coming back to compel the banks to accept them.”

The PDP also alleged that Governor and the APC caused a pre-loaded top up cards of N5,000 and N10,000 to be distributed to voters on the day of the election, to buy votes in favour of Dapo Abiodun.

Alleging that over 500,000 of the cards were printed, according to the petition, the PDP further alleged that the cumulative amount in the cards and the cost of printing was over N5b.

They added that the cost of printing and the amount loaded in the cards were well above the N1b financial threshold mandated by Section 88 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

“Dapo Abiodun and Yemi Sanusi caused to be distributed across Ogun State, pre-loaded top up gift cards of N5,000 and N10,000 to buy votes to enable Dapo Abiodun to win the governorship election.

“These Top up gifts cards with PINS and Serial Numbers could either be used to buy airtime by dialing *979*PIN# or could be used to withdraw or transfer cash by dialing *979*SPID*ACCOUNT NUMBER*PIN#.

“These cards were distributed on Election Day by APC agents who also had Point of Sale (PoS) machines which were used to either buy airtimes and data, collect cash, or cause the amount preloaded in the cards to be sent to voters’ accounts.”

Prior to the election, the Party further alleged that some thugs of Abiodun, Sanusi and the APC had conspired to induce and exert undue influence on voters to ensure a favourable outcome for the APC, contrary to section 121(5) and 127 (a) of the electoral Act, 2022.

According to the petition, 17 of them were arrested at different locations and at different times.

On the election day, the PDP further alleged that Abiodun, Sanusi and the APC ‘unleashed heavily armed thugs’ on its supporters and voters whom were going to vote against them, adding that some of the victims escaped death by the whisker.

“Several known Dapo Abiodun and Yemi Sanusi thigs invaded polling units while heavily armed shooting to scare INEC officials away, snatched and destroyed ballot papers and boxes and areas and polling units where they perceived they were going to lose. Later, many of the ballot papers were found disposed in water drains completely spoilt.

“Before the elections, known and stalwarts and agents of the APC were heard boasting that the had INEC in their pocket and that whatever the result of the election, Dapo Abiodun will be declared winner of the election.

“This played out when contrary to section 24(2&3), 47(3) and 51(2) of the Electoral Act, Dapo Abiodun was declared the winner.”

Messages and calls out across to the APC Chairman, as at the time of filling this report, was yet to be returned or responded to.

Governor Abiodun is yet to appoint a spokesperson.

The APC had earlier written a similar petition against the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hon Ladi Adebutu, for which a suit has been instituted against him and few others before the Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta.