Niko Kadi mobiliser Allan Ademba was reportedly arrested on Thursday while covering the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, with police saying the move was aimed at preventing possible incitement linked to the ongoing vote.

According to police, officers acted after raising concerns over a series of social media posts shared by the activist, which they believed could inflame tensions during the election.

“The posts he is making may lead to a problem. It is a mitigation,” said an officer involved in the operation, adding that investigators were engaging Ademba as they determined the next course of action.

Ademba later confirmed the arrest through a post on his X account, saying he had been taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices in Ol Kalou.

“I’ve been arrested. Niko Ol Kalau DCI…” he posted.

He did not immediately provide further details on the circumstances surrounding his arrest or confirm whether he had been formally charged.

Before his arrest, Ademba had been posting updates from various polling stations in Ol Kalou, where residents were voting to elect a new Member of Parliament. In one of his posts, he alleged that only voters who participated in the 2022 General Election were being allowed to cast their ballots.

He further claimed that individuals who had registered as new voters were being turned away in accordance with what he described as IEBC rules.

Earlier in the morning, at around 7:37 a.m., Ademba shared a video appearing to show voters queuing at the AIC polling station as voting got underway.

The Ol Kalou by-election has attracted heightened security, with more than 1,000 police officers deployed across the constituency to maintain law and order and ensure a peaceful voting process.

Authorities have not announced whether Ademba will face any charges as investigations continue.