ADC Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plan To Arrest Aregbesola Before Osun Election

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over an alleged plan to arrest its national secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, warning that such an action could further heighten tension in the state.

The party, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it had received “credible reports” of plans to arrest Aregbesola before the election.

According to the ADC, the alleged plan was particularly worrisome given what it described as a pattern of “intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions” against opposition parties by the federal government.

Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State and former minister of the federal republic, currently serves as the National Secretary of the ADC and is expected to be actively involved in coordinating the party’s activities during the election.

The opposition party maintained that where any security agency had legitimate grounds to invite Aregbesola, due process should be followed, arguing that arresting him on the eve of an election in which the ADC is participating could be perceived as an attempt to interfere with his responsibilities within the party.

“We therefore put the federal government and the security agencies on notice. The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” the statement said.

The ADC called on security agencies to act with restraint and cautioned the federal government against taking steps capable of escalating tension or compromising the electoral process.

“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 party said.

The party further urged the federal government to refrain from any action that could plunge Osun State into what it described as a needless crisis, stressing that Nigeria remained a democracy and all political actors must uphold democratic principles ahead of the poll.