The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alerted the public to what it calls a credible plot to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday's governorship election in Osun State. The party's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement posted on X, urging federal security agencies to avoid actions that could destabilise the state.
ADC Cites Pattern of Intimidation
Abdullahi said the ADC received reports of plans by unnamed parties to detain the former governor in the days leading up to the poll. He stressed that given the government's track record, the reports cannot be dismissed. "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," he said.
Aregbesola served as Osun State governor from 2010 to 2018 and later as Minister of the Interior before becoming ADC National Secretary. The party argued that if any security agency had a lawful reason to question him, established procedures exist. "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 statement read.
Arrest Timing Raises Questions
The ADC said detaining its national secretary at such a sensitive time would only be interpreted as an attempt to prevent him from leading the party's campaign activities. The party also directed a warning at the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government, urging it not to push Osun into a political crisis.
Abdullahi emphasised that the conduct of authorities before, during and after the election will be closely watched. "The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun. Whatever happens before, during and after Saturday's election will be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now," he said.
Context of Tensions in Osun
The ADC's alert comes amid broader tensions in Osun State, with other groups raising concerns about security and political conduct. Legit.ng earlier reported that over 2.3 million registered voters will choose among 14 candidates, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke facing APC's Bola Oyebamiji and ADC's Najeem Salam. Analysts expect a tight contest, with factors like vote-buying fears and campaign influences potentially swaying the outcome.
