August 12, 2026 | 7:15 pm
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has alleged a plot to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party had received “credible reports” of plans to arrest the former Osun governor in the days leading to the election.
The party expressed concern that the alleged move was aimed at disrupting its election activities._“Given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised this government’s conduct towards the opposition, we cannot afford to dismiss these reports,”_ Abdullahi said.Aregbesola served as Osun governor from 2010 to 2018 and later as Minister of Interior. He is currently the National Secretary of the ADC.
The party said established procedures exist for inviting any citizen, including its national secretary, if security agencies have lawful reasons._“Ogbeni Aregbesola is a former Governor of Osun State, a former Minister of the Federal Republic and the National Secretary of an opposition political party.
If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,”_ the statement read.The ADC argued that arresting Aregbesola on the eve of an election in which the party is participating would suggest an attempt to stop him from leading 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,”_ it said.The party put the Federal Government and security agencies on notice, urging them to avoid actions that could undermine the credibility of the poll.
“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,”_ Abdullahi said.The ADC also warned the APC-led Federal Government against actions that could trigger political tension in the state.
“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis,”_ the party said.
It further called on the government to respect democratic principles and allow political parties to participate freely._“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,”_ Abdullahi added.
