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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has claimed to have received reports of a plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party had received “credible reports” of plans to arrest the former Osun governor in the days leading to the poll.
The ADC said it was concerned that any arrest of Aregbesola shortly before the election could disrupt the party’s campaign and election-day coordination.
“Given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised the conduct of this government towards the opposition, we cannot afford to dismiss these reports,” Abdullahi said.
Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State and former Minister of Interior, serves as the ADC’s National Secretary.
The party said there would be no objection if security agencies had legitimate grounds to question him, provided established legal procedures were followed.
“If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” the statement said.
However, the ADC warned against arresting Aregbesola on the eve of the election, arguing that such an action could be perceived as an attempt to weaken the opposition party.
The party therefore informed the national government and security agencies of the alleged plan.
“Whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election will be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now,” he said.
The ADC also warned the All Progressives Congress-led national government against actions that could heighten tensions in Osun.
“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis,” the party said.
The statement comes three days before the August 15 Osun governorship election, in which the ADC is participating.
The poll pits incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke against a field of challengers, including the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, while Aregbesola is expected to play a senior organisational role for the ADC.
The election has attracted heightened political attention, with rival parties trading allegations of intimidation and concerns over the possibility of violence as voting day approaches.
The ADC did not identify the security agency allegedly planning Aregbesola’s arrest, disclose the source of its information or state whether the former governor had received any formal invitation.
It also did not provide evidence of an arrest plan.
The party concluded by reminding the government of its responsibility to protect democratic processes.
“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” Abdullahi said.
PRESS STATEMENT
OSUN ELECTION: ADC WARNS AGAINST PLANNED ARREST OF AREGBESOLA
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has received credible reports of plans to arrest our National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in the days leading to Saturday’s Osun State election.
Given the… pic.twitter.com/KeNUh4YCyg
— African Democratic Congress (@ADCNig) August 12, 2026
