The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to arrest its National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, warning that any such move could trigger a political crisis in the state.
The national publicity secretary of ADC Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said in a statement in Abuja .
The party said it had received “credible reports” of plans to arrest Aregbesola in the days leading to the election, describing the alleged move as a potential attempt to cripple its election machinery and prevent its leadership from effectively coordinating its activities.
In a strongly worded statement, the ADC accused the APC-led Federal Government of increasingly deploying intimidation, harassment and state institutions against opposition forces.
The party said Aregbesola, a former Governor of Osun State and former Minister of the Federal Republic, could not be lawfully singled out for arrest simply because an election was approaching.
“If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” the party said.
It warned that arresting Aregbesola on the eve of an election in which the ADC is participating would send a disturbing message about the credibility and fairness of the exercise.
“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 declared.
The party consequently placed the Federal Government and security agencies on notice, insisting that the eyes of Nigerians and the international community were firmly fixed on Osun.
“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,” it warned.
The ADC urged the Federal Government to immediately abandon any action capable of escalating political tension, warning that Osun State must not be turned into a theatre of intimidation ahead of the poll.
“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis,” the party said.
“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday.”
