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.
The party, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it had received what it described as credible reports of moves to arrest the former Osun State governor in the days leading to the election.
The ADC expressed concern that the alleged arrest could disrupt its campaign and election-day activities, particularly Aregbesola’s role in coordinating the party’s efforts.
Abdullahi said the party could not dismiss the reports given what it described as a pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions against opposition parties.
Aregbesola, who governed Osun between 2010 and 2018 and later served as Minister of the Interior, is currently the national secretary of the opposition party.
The ADC said any invitation of Aregbesola by security agencies should follow due process, considering his status as a former governor, former minister and national officer of an opposition party.
The party warned that arresting Aregbesola shortly before the election could be interpreted as an attempt to weaken the ADC’s participation in the poll and prevent him from coordinating its election activities.
The opposition party consequently urged the Federal Government and security agencies to avoid actions capable of undermining the credibility of the election.
Abdullahi said the attention of Nigerians was focused on Osun State and urged authorities to uphold democratic principles, stressing that the actions taken before, during and after Saturday’s election would be judged by the public.
The ADC also called on the APC-led Federal Government to avoid measures capable of heightening political tension in the state, reminding the government that Nigeria remains a democracy.