The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that security agencies are planning to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
The party warned that any such action could heighten political tensions and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who said the party had received what it described as “credible reports” of a possible arrest in the days leading to the election.
The ADC urged the Federal Government and security agencies to exercise restraint, stressing that any invitation or action against Aregbesola should follow established legal procedures if there were legitimate grounds to question him.
“If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” the party said.
Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State and former Minister of the Interior, is expected to play a role in coordinating the ADC’s activities during the election.
The party said arresting him shortly before the poll could be perceived as an attempt to prevent him from carrying out his responsibilities as a senior opposition official.
“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 said.
The allegation comes amid heightened political activities ahead of Saturday’s election, with electoral security, political rhetoric and the conduct of security agencies featuring prominently in discussions about the credibility of the poll.
The ADC also linked the alleged plan to what it described as a broader pattern of intimidation and harassment of opposition figures. However, the party did not provide details of the alleged arrest plan or identify the security agency it believes intends to detain Aregbesola.
The party called on the authorities to avoid actions capable of further escalating political tensions in the state.
“We therefore put the Federal Government and the security agencies on notice. The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC further warned that the conduct of government and security authorities before, during and after the election would influence public perception of the credibility of 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 also urged the Federal Government to respect political competition and ensure that opposition parties are allowed to participate fully in the election.
“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis,” the ADC said, adding, “Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday.”
The ADC’s allegation has not established that an arrest is planned, as the statement did not cite any official directive or publicly disclosed investigation to substantiate the claim.
With the election only days away, the party said it would continue to monitor developments and urged Nigerians to pay close attention to events surrounding the poll.
