The African Democratic Congress 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 opposition party said it had received what it described as “credible reports” that security agencies were planning to arrest the former governor of Osun State in the days leading to the election.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
The party expressed concern that any attempt to arrest Aregbesola shortly before the poll could disrupt its campaign and election-day coordination in the state.
Abdullahi said the development was particularly troubling against the backdrop of what the party described as increasing intimidation, harassment and alleged misuse of state institutions against opposition parties.
“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,” the statement said.
Aregbesola, who governed Osun State between 2010 and 2018 before serving as Minister of Interior, is currently the National Secretary of the ADC and one of the prominent figures in the party’s political structure.
The ADC said it was not opposed to security agencies inviting its national secretary for questioning if there were legitimate grounds to do so, but insisted that due process must be followed.
The party noted that Aregbesola’s status as a former governor, former federal minister and a senior opposition politician made any arrest on the eve of an election particularly sensitive.
“If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” the party said.
The ADC argued that arresting Aregbesola immediately before the election could be interpreted as an attempt to prevent him from coordinating the party’s activities during the poll.
“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 added.
The party consequently put the Federal Government and security agencies on notice, urging them to avoid any action capable of undermining confidence in the electoral process.
According to the ADC, the conduct of government and security agencies before, during and after the election would be closely scrutinised by Nigerians.
“The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said.
“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 opposition party also warned the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government against taking any step that could heighten political tension in Osun State ahead of the election.
It urged the government to respect democratic principles and allow all participating political parties to conduct their activities without intimidation.
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