Tension escalated in Ekiti State in anticipation of Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election, following the arrest of eleven suspected political thugs. These individuals were allegedly plotting to disrupt the electoral exercise. The Ekiti State Police Command, after parading the suspects, indicated a connection to a serving federal lawmaker, Hon. Davidson Akinlayo, who has since vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged plot.

The police characterized this development as an attempt to destabilize the APC primary election within the Moba/Ilejemeje/Ido-Osi Federal Constituency. This assertion came after operatives conducted a raid on Onikoyi Hotel in Ikun-Ekiti, during which firearms, including pump-action guns, were recovered. Commissioner of Police, Mr. Falade Adegoroye Micheal, while parading the suspects before journalists in Ado-Ekiti, stated that the operation was initiated based on credible intelligence indicating that armed hoodlums had gathered at the hotel in preparation for the primary election.

According to the police commissioner, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) stormed the hotel around 9 p.m. on May 14. During the raid, seven suspects were apprehended, while several others managed to escape in three vehicles. The arrested individuals were identified as Adekunle Stephen, Adepoju Adebayo, Boluwaji Ishola, Oluwatobi Adeoluwa, Akintunde Emmanuel, Adewale Makanjuola, and Ibitola Babatope. Items seized from these suspects included two pump-action guns, one Beretta pistol, nine rounds of 9mm live ammunition, four live cartridges, substances believed to be criminal charms, two Apple laptops, and a Honda Accord vehicle reportedly belonging to one of the suspects.

A subsequent follow-up operation by the police led to the interception of an unregistered Toyota Sienna bus, which was transporting four fleeing suspects. These individuals were identified as Abanikanda Sikiru, Dayo Ibijowo, Ajayi Dele, and Adegbite Damola. During this interception, another pump-action gun was allegedly recovered. CP Micheal further stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly confessed to being political thugs recruited with the intent to disrupt the APC primary election. The suspects purportedly linked Hon. Akinlayo, who represents the Moba/Ilejemeje/Ido-Osi Federal Constituency and is seeking re-election, to the operation.

Despite these alleged confessions, Commissioner Micheal emphasized that investigations are ongoing and assured the public that all suspects would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of these investigations. Efforts are also being intensified to apprehend any fleeing suspects and alleged sponsors. In response to these serious allegations, Hon. Davidson Akinlayo publicly denied sponsoring hoodlums to disrupt the exercise. He described the claims as politically motivated and a deliberate attempt to tarnish his image ahead of the primary election.

Speaking to journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the lawmaker clarified that only two of the arrested individuals were known to him, identifying them as members of his media team: Boluwatife Ishola (his assistant media aide) and Babatope Ibitola (head of his media team). He asserted that these individuals are recognized media professionals in Ekiti State and have no history of criminal involvement. Akinlayo maintained that none of the other suspects were from his federal constituency or worked for him. He further added, "The rest that were arrested are well known in town. None of them is from my federal constituency, none works for me and I do not live in the hotel. I only lodged there briefly when my house was fumigated and had since returned home."

The lawmaker also made counter-allegations, suggesting that some of those arrested were government appointees and “non-state actors” allegedly working for interests opposed to his political ambition. Questioning the accusation that he supplied weapons to the suspects, Akinlayo stated, "How can they say I bought guns for people? Do I even own a gun? I had thriving businesses before joining politics. I am not a puppet." He further accused one of his opponents in the primary election of attempting to intimidate voters and manipulate the process, rather than engaging in legitimate campaigning across the constituency. He concluded by saying, "My opponent is only eager to write results. He is not ready for the primary or the real contest. Democracy is government of the people, not an individual sitting comfortably at home and writing results."