APC Primary Crisis: Ex-Ondo Deputy Speaker Drags IGP, Police To Court

A former Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Ayodeji Arowele, has instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and several senior police officers over his arrest on the eve of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency.

The suit, filed before the Federal High Court through his lawyer, Kunle Ijalana, names the Nigeria Police Force, ASP Ebito Ephraim, CSP Hilary Mazi and Yusuf Sanya Isiaka as co-defendants.

The legal action comes barely a day after the Ondo State Government expressed concerns over the activities of officers attached to the Force Intelligence Department operating in parts of the state.

Arowele, a two-term member of the Ondo State House of Assembly and an APC aspirant, is challenging the circumstances surrounding his arrest on May 16, 2026. He alleged that the operation was deliberately carried out to stop him from participating in the party’s primary election ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In the application brought under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, the former lawmaker asked the court to declare that the alleged invasion of his hotel room in Owo violated his constitutional rights to privacy, personal liberty and the dignity of his person.

He also wants the court to declare that the operation, which he claimed was carried out on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police at the instance of the fourth defendant, was unlawful, unconstitutional and an abuse of power.

Arowele further sought an order restraining the police from inviting, arresting or intimidating him over the same allegations. He is also demanding ₦50 million in general damages for the alleged violation of his fundamental rights.

In a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Arowele alleged that about 30 police officers, led by CSP Hilary Mazi and ASP Ebito Ephraim, stormed his hotel room in what he described as a “Gestapo-style” operation without presenting a warrant of arrest.

He claimed he was assaulted after requesting to see the warrant and further alleged that officers attacked members of his Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) security team, with one operative reportedly losing a tooth during the incident.

According to the petition, Arowele was one of the APC aspirants contesting for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency seat, and the party’s primary election was scheduled for the same day he was arrested.

He also stated that he was later invited to the office of the Area Commander in Owo on June 10, where he was informed that the Inspector-General had ordered an investigation into a petition allegedly filed against him by Yusuf Sanya Isiaka.

The former deputy speaker said he was granted bail after spending about six hours in detention at the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 17, Akure, and was instructed to report to the Force Headquarters in Abuja after the APC primary election.

However, he alleged that despite his release and the subsequent transfer of the matter to the Area Command in Owo, investigating officers have continued to summon him to Abuja and threaten him with another arrest.

The Federal High Court is expected to fix a date for hearing the suit.