Osun Election: ADC Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plan to Arrest Aregbesola Before Poll

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm over what it described as an alleged plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

The opposition party said it received what it called credible information about a possible arrest of the former Osun governor in the days leading up to the poll. The allegation has added another layer of tension to an election already attracting close attention from political parties and security agencies.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party was concerned because of what it described as a pattern of intimidation, harassment and alleged misuse of state institutions against opposition groups.

Abdullahi, however, said the party was not opposed to lawful invitations by security agencies if there were legitimate reasons to question Aregbesola. He insisted that any such action should follow established legal procedures.

Aregbesola served as Osun State governor between 2010 and 2018 and later became Minister of the Interior. He is now the National Secretary of the ADC and has a role in coordinating the party’s activities as it prepares for the governorship election.

The ADC argued that arresting its national secretary shortly before the election could affect the party’s ability to coordinate its campaign and election operations. It said such timing would inevitably raise questions about the motive behind the action.

The party urged the Federal Government and security agencies to avoid actions that could undermine confidence in the election or increase political tension in Osun. It said the credibility of the poll would be judged by how authorities conduct themselves before, during and after voting.

“The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said, warning that the APC-led Federal Government should avoid any action capable of pushing the state into what the party described as an unnecessary political crisis.

The ADC maintained that Nigeria remains a democracy and called on authorities to respect due process while ensuring that all political parties are allowed to participate freely in the election.