The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised alarm over an alleged plan to arrest Rauf Aregbesola, its National Secretary, ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
The party said it had received credible reports that security agencies were planning to arrest Aregbesola in the days leading to the election, describing the alleged move as a potential attempt to weaken its operations ahead of the poll.
The allegation came as political activities have intensified ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, with the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke of Accord, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, widely regarded as the leading contenders.
Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC National Publicity Secretary, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, warning the federal government and security agencies against any action that could heighten tension in the state.
Abdullahi said the party was particularly concerned about the alleged arrest plan because of what he described as a growing pattern of intimidation, harassment and 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.
The party argued that if any security agency had a lawful reason to question or invite Aregbesola, there were established procedures for doing so.
It, however, warned that arresting him on the eve of an election in which his party is participating could be interpreted as an attempt to stop him from coordinating the party’s activities.
‘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. 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 APC federal government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis. Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,’ the ADC added.