Osun Election: ADC Warns Against Planned Arrest of Aregbesola

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm over alleged plans to arrest its National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

The party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said it had received what it described as “credible reports” of plans to arrest Aregbesola in the days leading to the election.

The ADC expressed concern that the alleged move could be part of a wider pattern of intimidation, harassment and alleged misuse of state institutions against opposition figures.

Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State and former Minister of the Federal Republic, currently serves as the National Secretary of the ADC.

The party said that if any security agency had a lawful reason to invite Aregbesola, there were established procedures for doing so.

It warned that arresting him on the eve of an election in which the ADC is participating could create the impression that the objective was to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party’s election activities.

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

The ADC added that whatever happens before, during and after the election would be judged by the actions taken by the authorities rather than explanations offered afterwards.

The opposition party also urged the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to avoid actions that could plunge Osun State into what it described as a needless crisis.

“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” the party said.