Party warns that any arrest of its national secretary before the Osun poll could disrupt its election activities
The African Democratic Congress has raised concerns over an alleged Aregbesola arrest plan ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, warning that any move against its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, could disrupt the party’s preparations for the poll.
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Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, raised the alarm in a statement issued on X on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, saying the party had received what it described as credible reports of plans to arrest the former Osun State governor before the election.
The allegation comes just days before voters across Osun are due to elect their governor, amid heightened political activity and concerns over the conduct of the electoral process.
“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.
The ADC said it was particularly concerned about the timing of the alleged action, arguing that Aregbesola’s arrest on the eve of an election could affect his ability to coordinate the party’s activities.
Aregbesola served as governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018 before becoming Minister of the Interior.
He currently serves as the National Secretary of the ADC, one of the opposition parties participating in the governorship contest.
The party said any security agency seeking to question Aregbesola should follow established legal procedures rather than resorting to an arrest that could create political tension.
“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,” the statement said.
“If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so.”
The ADC argued that the circumstances surrounding any such action would be closely scrutinised because of the proximity to the 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,” the party said.
The allegation has not been independently established, and the ADC did not identify the security agency allegedly preparing to arrest Aregbesola or provide details of the information on which the claim was based.
The party nevertheless placed the Federal Government and security agencies on notice, urging them to avoid actions that could undermine confidence in the election.
“The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said.
“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 warning adds another layer to the political atmosphere surrounding the Osun election, which has already been marked by allegations and counter-allegations among rival political camps.
The ADC also appealed to the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to avoid steps that could inflame tensions in the state, stressing that opposition parties should be allowed to campaign and participate without intimidation.
“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis,” the party said.
The party’s position comes as political actors and security agencies face growing pressure to ensure that the election is conducted peacefully and that voters can exercise their franchise without fear.
The ADC said respect for democratic participation should remain central to preparations for the poll.
“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” Abdullahi said.
With the election only days away, any verified development involving senior opposition figures is likely to attract close public attention.
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For the ADC, the immediate concern is that an alleged Aregbesola arrest plan could become a flashpoint in an already sensitive electoral environment.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
