Osun Governorship Election: ADC Warns FG Against Arresting Aregbesola

• The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised an alarm over a plot to arrest its National Secretary, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of the Osun state governorship election.
• Security agencies are allegedly planning to arrest Aregbsola in the days leading up to the poll, which could exacerbate tensions and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
• The ADC has urged the Federal Government and security agencies to exercise restraint and follow established legal procedures if they have legitimate grounds to question Aregbsola.

The alleged plan to arrest Aregbsola should not be viewed in isolation from the wider political environment surrounding the Osun election.

The Osun state governorship election on Saturday has already been marred by heightened political tension, with various parties and civil society organizations expressing concerns over alleged intimidation, inflammatory rhetoric, electoral violence, and the conduct of security agencies. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has now raised the alarm over an alleged plot to arrest its National Secretary, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of the election. According to credible information received by the party, security agencies are planning to arrest Aregbesola in the days leading up to the poll. This move could further exacerbate tensions in the state and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

The ADC has emphasized that if any security agency had legitimate grounds to question Aregbesola, it should follow established legal procedures rather than resorting to an arrest. As a former governor of Osun State and former Minister of the Interior, Aregbesola is expected to play a key role in coordinating the party's activities during the election. The ADC has urged the Federal Government and security agencies to exercise restraint and avoid any action that could disrupt the electoral process or undermine public confidence in the election. In fact, the party has warned that arresting Aregbsola on the eve of the election would create the impression that the purpose is to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party's election activities.

The ADC has put the Federal Government and security agencies on notice, warning that their actions will be judged by Nigerians. The party has stressed that the country remains a democracy and urged the government to respect democratic institutions, political competition, and the rule of law. The alleged plan to arrest Aregbsola should not be viewed in isolation from the wider political environment surrounding the Osun election. The ADC has cautioned the Federal Government against taking any step capable of worsening tensions in Osun, emphasizing that the country's democracy is at stake.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware that any attempt to arrest Rauf Aregbesola, the ADC's National Secretary, ahead of the Osun state governorship election could heighten political tension in the state and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

Source: Original reporting via ADC