Security operatives in Ogun State have arrested officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and two staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over alleged possession of a large sum of money in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area.

A viral video posted on Saturday showed the suspects — a male and a female INEC official alongside PDP officers — being interrogated by security personnel at a hotel in the area. The interrogator alleged that intelligence reports indicated the INEC staff had been contacted and given money by PDP members for vote buying during the ongoing Remo Federal Constituency by-election.

In the video, the male INEC official admitted he was directed by his supervisor to collect the cash from the politicians, while one of the PDP officers denied involvement, insisting: “You are just showing money; I don’t know anything about it.”

PDP Reacts

The PDP has described the arrest as a plot to intimidate and disenfranchise its members. The party’s Director of Media and Communications, Asiwaju Akinloye Bankole, in a statement, said security operatives stormed the hotel around 3:30 a.m. in a “commando-style operation” and arrested the party officer along with his driver and aide.

He insisted no electoral materials or large sums of money were found, claiming only ₦100,000 was in the officer’s possession. “It is part of a grand plan to scare our people and disenfranchise them. This is unfortunate and shameful in a democracy,” Bankole said.

He further dissociated the arrested PDP member from the two INEC officials, stressing it was “practically impossible” for them to be in the same hotel room.

Police Response

Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, confirmed the development, saying investigations were ongoing.

“We are investigating the matter. That’s how much I can say for now,” Ogunlowo said, adding that more details would be provided later.

A North-East group under the platform of Bring Back Our Goodluck has apologised to former President Goodluck Jonathan over what it described as false allegations linking him to the sponsorship of Boko Haram during his administration.

The group’s National Chairman, Dr. Grema Kyari, made the apology on Friday in Maiduguri during a gathering of youths to strategise on mobilising support for Jonathan’s return to the presidential race in 2027.

Kyari, who hails from Borno State, said the narrative that Jonathan sponsored Boko Haram was a damaging falsehood that contributed to his removal from office in 2015. He claimed the former president was a victim of a “regime change” allegedly orchestrated by foreign powers, particularly the Obama/Biden administration in 2014, in collaboration with some Nigerian politicians.

“On behalf of myself and countless fellow Nigerians who were victims of the misinformation, I extend a heartfelt public apology to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. We now recognise that he was a leader with integrity, compassion, and a national vision,” Kyari said.

The group announced plans for a one-million-man march to Jonathan’s country home in Bayelsa to urge him to contest the 2027 presidential election, after touring all regions of the country.

Kyari recalled that Jonathan conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 even before final results were announced, describing the gesture as a selfless act that safeguarded Nigeria’s democracy.

He also commended Jonathan’s refusal to bow to international pressure to legalise same-sex marriage, as well as his decision to partially reverse the 2012 fuel subsidy removal following nationwide protests, saying these were marks of humility and democratic leadership.

Kyari further said Jonathan’s administration was notable for appointments based on merit and competence, adding that Nigeria urgently needs a leader who prioritises peace, unity, and compassion over power and personal ambition.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will commence on August 25, 2025, and run for one year ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, disclosed this in an interview with Channels Television, stating that the exercise will be conducted both online and at designated physical centers nationwide.

According to centres, EC has designated 811 registration centres, including its 774 local government offices and state headquarters, to ensure accessibility for eligible Nigerians.

“The online registration will not be for just one week as some people think. It will operate side by side with the in-person registration, which starts on the 25th of August, and this will continue for a whole year,” Oyekanmi said.

He explained that the registration is open to Nigerians who have turned 18 and those who have never registered before, while cautioning against multiple registrations, which he noted is punishable under the law.

Oyekanmi urged citizens to register early rather than wait until the deadline, stressing that a last-minute rush would put unnecessary pressure on INEC offices.

He added that the addresses of all registration centers have been uploaded on the INEC website, while a contact center has been set up to respond to inquiries.