The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested seven suspected political thugs allegedly linked to a serving member of the House of Representatives over an alleged plot to disrupt the All Progressives Congress primary election in the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Falade Adegoroye Michael, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing, revealing that the suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence reports.
According to the police boss, the suspects, described as armed hoodlums, were arrested around 9pm on Thursday at Onikoyi Hotel in Ikun-Ekiti shortly after security operatives received information about their movement into the state.
Those arrested were identified as Adekunle Stephen, Boluwaji Ishola, Adepoju Adebayo, Oluwatobi Adeoluwa, Akintunde Emmanuel, Ibitola Babatope and Adewale Makanjuola, while several others reportedly escaped in three vehicles during the operation.
Falade alleged that preliminary investigations showed the suspects were recruited as political thugs by a serving federal lawmaker to cause unrest during the APC primary election initially fixed for Friday, May 15, 2026.
The police commissioner added that dangerous items were recovered from the suspects during the raid.
Items recovered, according to him, included one Beretta pistol, two pump-action guns, nine rounds of 9mm live ammunition, four live cartridges, substances suspected to be charms, two Apple laptops and a Honda Accord vehicle.
He assured residents that the suspects would be prosecuted after investigations, adding that efforts had been intensified to track down other fleeing members of the group as well as their alleged sponsor.
Meanwhile, the APC primary election earlier slated for Friday was postponed to Saturday, May 16, 2026.