The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has raised concerns over an alleged plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday.
The party made its position known on Wednesday through a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi. The ADC said it had received reports suggesting that security agencies could move against Aregbesola before the election.
The party expressed concern that such an action, if carried out, could affect its preparations and ability to coordinate its activities during the poll.
Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State who served between 2010 and 2018 and later became Minister of Interior, currently serves as the National Secretary of the ADC.
The party said any security agency that has a lawful reason to question Aregbesola should follow the proper procedure rather than taking steps that could create tension ahead of the election.
According to the ADC, arresting a senior party official shortly before an election in which the party is participating could raise concerns about the reason for the action and its possible effect on the party’s campaign and election plans.
The party therefore called on the Federal Government and security agencies to act with caution and avoid measures that could affect the credibility of the Osun election.
The ADC also warned against any action that could increase political tension in the state, noting that attention would be focused on Osun as voters prepare to choose their next governor.
The opposition party urged the government to respect democratic rules and allow all participating political parties to carry out their lawful activities without intimidation or interference.
It also called on security agencies to maintain neutrality before, during and after the election, saying any action capable of disrupting the process could create unnecessary tension in the state.
The ADC further appealed to political actors to avoid actions that could lead to violence or undermine public confidence in the electoral process as Osun residents prepare for Saturday’s poll.