The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm over an alleged plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
The party said it had received what it described as “credible reports” of a possible arrest of the former governor in the days leading to the election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that the alleged move could disrupt the party’s preparations and coordination for the poll.
The party linked the alleged plan to what it described as a growing pattern of intimidation and harassment of opposition figures.
“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 served as governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018 and later became Minister of the Interior. He is currently the National Secretary of the ADC.
The party said any security agency seeking to question Aregbesola should follow established legal procedures, given his status as a former governor, former federal minister and senior opposition politician.
It warned that arresting him shortly before an election could create doubts about the credibility of the electoral process.
“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 said.
The ADC subsequently put the Federal Government and security agencies on notice, urging them to avoid actions that could undermine the credibility of the August 15 election.
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“The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said, adding that the conduct of authorities before, during and after the election would be closely scrutinised.
The party also warned the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government against actions capable of triggering political tension in Osun State.
It urged the government to respect democratic principles and ensure that all political parties are allowed to participate freely in the election.
“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” the ADC said.
The party did not provide details of the alleged source of the information or identify any security agency it claimed was behind the reported plan.
