The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged a plan to arrest its National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in the days leading up to Saturday’s Osun State election.
ADC, in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has characterised the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government towards the opposition, it could not afford to dismiss these reports.
The party stated that “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.
“If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so.
“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.”
ADC therefore told the Federal Government and the security agencies that the eyes of Nigerians are on Osun State, adding that whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election would be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken.
The party warned the APC to 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,” ADC added.
