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 party said it had received what it described as credible reports that security agencies were planning to arrest the former governor in the days leading to the election.
The ADC said any such action could disrupt its campaign and election activities, warning the Federal Government and security agencies against actions that could undermine the credibility of the poll.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, raised the alarm in a statement posted on X on Wednesday.
Abdullahi said the party was taking the alleged plan seriously because of what he described as a growing pattern of 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,” he said.
Aregbesola, who served as governor of Osun State between 2010 and 2018, is currently the National Secretary of the ADC. He also served as Minister of the Interior under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
His position in the ADC places him among the party’s key national figures involved in coordinating its activities, including preparations for the Osun governorship election.
The ADC said it was not opposed to any lawful investigation or invitation of its national secretary by security agencies. However, it insisted that any such action must follow established legal procedures.
“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 party said.
The opposition party argued that the timing of any arrest would be particularly important, given that the election is scheduled for Saturday.
It said arresting Aregbesola shortly before the poll would raise questions about the motive behind the action, particularly because of his responsibility for coordinating the party’s activities.
“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 said.
The ADC consequently put the Federal Government and security agencies on notice, urging them to ensure that their actions before, during and after the election did not create doubts about the credibility of the process.
“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 party also warned the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government against any action that could increase political tension in Osun State.
“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis,” the ADC said.
It called on the government to respect democratic principles and allow all political parties and their candidates to participate freely in the election.
“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” Abdullahi said.
The alarm by the ADC comes against the background of growing political activity in Osun State as parties and candidates make final preparations for the governorship election.
Governorship elections in Nigeria are often closely watched because of their political importance, particularly when they involve a contest between major parties and prominent political figures.
Osun has also remained an important political battleground. The state has experienced changes in political control in recent years, with the Peoples Democratic Party and the APC taking turns in controlling the state.
The 2022 governorship election, for instance, saw Ademola Adeleke of the PDP defeat the then incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola of the APC. The result followed a closely fought campaign and a keenly contested election.
The forthcoming poll has again drawn attention because of the involvement of major political parties and the wider political significance of the state.
Aregbesola himself is a major political figure in Osun, having served two terms as governor. During his tenure, he was a leading figure in the then Action Congress of Nigeria and later the APC.
His movement into the ADC has also attracted attention as opposition parties seek to build stronger structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADC is among the political parties seeking to challenge the dominance of the two major parties, the APC and the PDP. Its growing profile has made the activities of its leaders a subject of political interest.
The party’s latest statement therefore places the alleged plan to arrest Aregbesola within a wider political context.
However, the ADC did not name the security agency allegedly planning the arrest, nor did it disclose details of the reports it said it had received. It also did not state whether Aregbesola had been contacted or invited by any security agency as of the time of issuing the statement.
The allegation also comes at a time when concerns about the role of security agencies in elections remain a major issue in Nigeria.
Security agencies are deployed during elections to maintain order, protect voters and electoral officials, and prevent violence. However, opposition parties have repeatedly accused governments of using state institutions to intimidate their opponents. Governments and security agencies have generally rejected allegations of political interference when such claims are made.
The Independent National Electoral Commission is responsible for conducting elections, while security agencies are expected to provide a safe environment for voters and electoral officials.
For the ADC, the immediate concern is that any action against its national secretary shortly before the Osun election could affect the party’s ability to coordinate its activities.
The party has therefore called for restraint from the Federal Government and security agencies, stressing that the credibility of the election would depend not only on the voting process but also on what happens before and after election day.
As political parties enter the final stage of their preparations, attention is now focused on how security agencies will conduct themselves and whether the election will be allowed to proceed without intimidation, violence or disruption.
The ADC said it expected the government to uphold democratic principles and ensure a level playing field for all contestants.
With the poll only days away, the party’s warning has added another layer to the political tension surrounding the election and placed the Federal Government under pressure to address concerns about the alleged arrest plan.