The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that security agencies are planning to arrest its National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
The opposition party said it had received what it described as credible information about the alleged plan, warning that any attempt to arrest the former Osun State governor shortly before the poll could further heighten political tensions.
In a statement on Wednesday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed concern over what the party described as a pattern of intimidation, harassment and alleged abuse of state institutions against opposition figures.
“The African Democratic Congress has received credible reports of plans to arrest our National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in the days leading to Saturday’s Osun State election,” the statement said.
The party urged the Federal Government and security agencies to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could disrupt the electoral process or undermine public confidence in the poll.
Aregbesola, who served as governor of Osun State and later as Minister of the Interior, is expected to play a role in coordinating the ADC’s activities during the election.
The party said that if any security agency had legitimate grounds to question him, it should follow due process rather than take steps that could be interpreted as politically motivated.
“Ogbeni Aregbesola is a former governor of Osun State, a former minister of the Federal Republic and the National Secretary of the opposition political party.
“If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” the ADC said.
The party further argued that an arrest shortly before the election could be perceived as an attempt to prevent Aregbesola 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,” it said.
The allegation comes against the backdrop of heightened political activity in Osun ahead of Saturday’s governorship poll. Political parties and civil society groups have raised concerns over alleged intimidation, inflammatory rhetoric, electoral violence and the conduct of security agencies.
The ADC said the reported threat to arrest Aregbesola should be considered within the broader political environment surrounding the election, which has attracted significant national attention because of Osun’s political importance and its potential implications for opposition realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We therefore put the Federal Government and the security agencies on notice. The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said.
He added that the conduct of the authorities before, during and after the election would ultimately be assessed on the basis of their actions rather than explanations offered after the poll.
“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 warned.
The ADC also cautioned the Federal Government against taking any action capable of worsening tensions in the state.
“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis,” it said.
The opposition party called on the government to respect democratic institutions and ensure that political parties are able to participate fully in the electoral process.
“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” the party said.
The ADC said it would continue to monitor developments and urged Nigerians to pay close attention to events surrounding the election.
