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

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

Naija News reports that the suit, filed before the Federal High Court through his counsel, Kunle Ijalana, also listed the Nigeria Police Force, ASP Ebito Ephraim, CSP Hilary Mazi and one Yusuf Sanya Isiaka as defendants.

The legal action comes less than 24 hours after the Ondo State Government raised concerns over the activities of officers attached to the Force Intelligence Department 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, which he alleged was deliberately timed to prevent him from participating in the party’s primary election ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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

He is also seeking a declaration that the operation, allegedly carried out on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police and at the instance of the fourth defendant, was unconstitutional and amounted to an abuse of power.

The former lawmaker further asked the court to restrain the police from arresting, inviting or threatening him over the same allegation and is seeking ₦50 million as general damages for the alleged violation of his fundamental rights.

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

He claimed he was assaulted after demanding to see the warrant and alleged that his security personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were also attacked, with one operative reportedly losing a tooth during the incident.

According to the petition, “It is instructive to know, sir, that our client was one of the aspirants contesting under the All Progressive Congress (APC) for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency in the 2027 General Election. The primary election was ordinarily slated for the same day our client was arrested.”

Arowele further 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 directed an investigation into a petition allegedly filed against him by Yusuf Sanya Isiaka.

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

He, however, alleged that despite his release and the transfer of the case to the Area Commander in Owo, the investigating officers had continued to summon him to Abuja and threaten him with fresh arrest.

The court is expected to fix a date for hearing the application.