The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that there are plans to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of the governorship election in Osun State on Saturday.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Wednesday, the ADC noted that, given the pattern of intimidation, harassment, and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised the conduct of the government towards the opposition, the party cannot afford to dismiss the reports.
“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 ADC stated that 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 party put the Federal Government and the security agencies on notice, saying the eyes of Nigerians are on Osun.
It stressed that 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 urged the APC-led Federal Government to be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis.
It added that Nigeria is still a democracy and that the government would do well to remember that before Saturday.
