By Osaretin Osadebamwen
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over an alleged plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC had received what it described as “credible reports” of moves to arrest the former Osun State governor before the election.
The party expressed concern that Aregbesola’s alleged arrest could disrupt its campaign and election-day operations, particularly his role in coordinating the party’s activities during the poll.
“Given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised the conduct of this government towards the opposition, we cannot afford to dismiss these reports,” Abdullahi said.
Aregbesola, who served as Osun State governor from 2010 to 2018 and later became Minister of the Interior, currently serves as the National Secretary of the opposition ADC.
The party maintained that any invitation extended to Aregbesola by security agencies must comply with established legal procedures, citing his status as a former governor, former federal minister and senior opposition figure.
“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 party said.
The ADC warned that arresting its National Secretary shortly before the Osun governorship election could be viewed as an attempt to weaken the party’s participation and limit its ability to coordinate its activities during the poll.
“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 statement added.
The opposition party therefore appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to avoid actions that could undermine public confidence in the Osun election and its credibility.
“The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said, urging authorities to uphold democratic principles.
The ADC also called on the APC-led Federal Government to refrain from measures capable of escalating political tension ahead of the election.
“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” Abdullahi said.
He concluded that “Whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election will be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now.”
