“Don’t arrest Aregbesola before Osun poll” — ADC warns FG 

The African Democratic Congress has raised the alarm over an alleged plan by security agencies to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, warning that any such action could heighten political tension and undermine confidence in the electoral process.

The opposition party said it had received what it described as credible information about plans to arrest the former Osun State governor in the days leading to the election.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party was concerned about what it described as a pattern of intimidation, harassment and alleged misuse 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 read.

The party urged the Federal Government and security agencies to exercise restraint and avoid any action capable of disrupting the election or undermining public confidence in the process.

The allegation comes amid heightened political tension in Osun ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Political parties and civil society organisations have raised concerns over alleged intimidation, inflammatory rhetoric, electoral violence and the conduct of security agencies.

The election has also attracted significant attention because of Osun’s political importance and the potential implications of its outcome for the wider realignment of opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The ADC said the alleged plan to arrest Aregbesola should therefore be considered within the broader political environment surrounding the Osun election.

“We therefore put the Federal Government and the security agencies on notice. The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Mr Abdullahi said.

He warned that the conduct of authorities before, during and after the election would be assessed based on 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 ADC warned.

ADC demands due process

Mr Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State and former Minister of the Interior, is expected to play a role in coordinating the ADC’s activities during the election.

The party argued that if any security agency had legitimate grounds to question the former governor, it should follow established legal procedures rather than take an action that could be perceived 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 warned that arresting Aregbesola shortly before the election could create the impression that the action was intended to prevent him from performing 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,” the ADC said.

ADC cautions Federal Government

The party specifically cautioned the Federal Government against taking any step capable of worsening tensions in the state.

“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into a needless crisis,” it said.

The ADC also stressed that Nigeria remained a democracy and urged the government to respect democratic institutions, political competition and the rights of opposition parties to participate fully in the election.

“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” the party said.

The opposition party said it would continue to monitor developments and urged Nigerians to pay close attention to events surrounding the Osun governorship election.