Security operatives in Kaduna State arrested Shehu Aliyu Patangi with ₦25.9 million in cash on August 16, 2025, in a suspected vote-buying scheme during the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency by-election, as confirmed by the Kaduna Police Command. The arrest occurred at 3:30 a.m. at a hotel on Turunku Road, Kaduna, with the Department of State Services (DSS) assisting in recovering the funds, believed to be intended to bribe voters. Patangi confessed during interrogation, pleading for leniency, according to police spokesperson DSP Mansir Hassan. Commissioner of Police Rabiu Muhammad warned that anyone undermining the electoral process would face legal consequences, emphasizing robust security measures for the by-election across 16 constituencies in 12 states.
In a related development, security officers in Ogun State arrested several individuals suspected to be Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff, alongside a politician, for alleged vote-buying ahead of the Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency by-election on August 16, 2025. The suspects were apprehended with a substantial amount of cash, though specific figures remain undisclosed. Preliminary investigations suggest the group planned to influence voters, prompting swift action from security agencies. Details of who this politician is, alongside the several individuals caught, are yet to be released.
