The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm over an alleged plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, and warned that any such action could heighten political tension and undermine confidence in the poll.
The opposition party said on Wednesday that it had received credible information indicating that security agencies were preparing to arrest the former Osun State governor in the days preceding the election.
The allegation has added another layer to an already tense political atmosphere in Osun, where concerns have been raised over alleged intimidation, inflammatory statements, electoral violence, and the conduct of security agencies ahead of the Saturday poll.
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In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC urged the Federal Government and security agencies to exercise restraint and ensure that their actions did not interfere with the ability of political parties to conduct their legitimate electoral activities.
The party said, “The African Democratic Congress has received credible reports of plans to arrest our National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in the days leading to Saturday’s Osun State election.”
Aregbesola, who governed Osun State and later served as Minister of the Interior, is expected to participate in the coordination of the ADC’s activities during the election.
The party maintained that any security agency with legitimate reasons to question him should follow due process rather than carry out an arrest that could be interpreted as politically motivated.
“Ogbeni Aregbesola is a former governor of Osun State, a former minister of the Federal Republic and the National Secretary of the opposition political party. If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” the ADC said.
The party further contended that the timing of any arrest would be crucial, particularly if it occurred shortly before voters go to the polls.
It revealed that detaining Aregbesola at such a time could be viewed as an attempt to restrict his ability to coordinate the opposition party’s election operations.
The party said, “An arrest on the eve of an election in which his party is participating would invite only one reasonable conclusion: that the purpose is to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party’s election activities.”
The ADC also accused the authorities of allowing a pattern of intimidation, harassment, and alleged misuse of state institutions against opposition figures, although it did not provide details of the alleged arrest plan beyond its claim of receiving credible reports.
It called on the Federal Government to consider the wider implications of any action involving a senior opposition official before the election.
The party said the allegation should be considered against the broader political environment surrounding the Osun election, which has drawn heightened attention from political parties and civil society organisations.
“We therefore put the Federal Government and the security agencies on notice. The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said.
He added that the credibility of the authorities would ultimately be assessed through their conduct before, during, and after the election.
“Whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election will be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now,” the ADC warned.
The party also cautioned the Federal Government against any action capable of aggravating tensions in the state.
“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis,” it said.
The ADC appealed for respect for democratic institutions and the rights of opposition parties to participate fully in the electoral process.
The party said, “Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday.
The party said it would continue to monitor developments around the election and urged Nigerians to pay close attention to events surrounding the poll.
