Osun Election: ADC raises alarm over alleged plot to arrest Aregbesola

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has raised an alarm over alleged plans to arrest the National Secretary of the party, Rauf Aregbesola.

This was contained in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Wednesday.

Abdullahi said, given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised the conduct of the current administration towards the opposition, the party cannot afford to dismiss the reports.

He added that if any security agency has a lawful reason to invite the ADC chieftain, there are established procedures for doing so.

DAILY POST reports that Aregbesola is a former Governor of Osun State and former Minister of Interior.

“We have received credible reports of plans to arrest our National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in the days leading to Saturday’s Osun State election.

“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.

“We therefore put the Federal Government and the security agencies on notice. 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.

“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis. Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” the statement said.