The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm over what it described as credible reports of a plan to arrest its National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
The party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the alleged arrest plan had become a matter of serious concern against the backdrop of what it described as a growing pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions by the government against opposition forces.
According to the ADC, it could not afford to dismiss the reports given the circumstances surrounding the election.
The party noted that Aregbesola is a former Governor of Osun State, former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and currently the National Secretary of the opposition political party.
The ADC maintained that if any security agency had a lawful reason to invite Aregbesola, there were established procedures for doing so.
It, however, warned that arresting the former governor on the eve of an election in which the ADC is participating would, in its view, create the impression that the objective was to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party’s election activities.
“We therefore put the Federal Government and the security agencies on notice. The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” the party stated.
The ADC said whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election would be judged by Nigerians, not by explanations that might be offered afterwards, but by the actions being taken by the authorities in the period leading to the poll.
The opposition party consequently urged the Federal Government and security agencies to exercise caution, warning the APC-led Federal Government against taking any action capable of plunging Osun State into what it described as a needless crisis.
The party further reminded the government that Nigeria remains a democracy and urged it to bear that in mind before Saturday’s election.
