-
The African Democratic Congress has alleged that security agencies are planning to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s Osun governorship election.
-
The party warned that any such action could heighten political tensions and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
-
The ADC urged authorities to follow established legal procedures if Aregbesola is required for questioning.
-
The allegation comes amid heightened political activity and concerns over security and the conduct of the Osun election.
August 13, (THEWILL) — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that security agencies are planning to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, warning that such an action could heighten political tensions and undermine confidence in the poll.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who said the ADC had received what it described as “credible reports” of a possible arrest in the days before the election.
The party urged the Federal Government and security agencies to exercise restraint, arguing that any action against Aregbesola should follow established legal procedures if there were legitimate grounds to question him.
“ If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” the ADC said.
Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State and former Minister of the Interior, is expected to be involved in coordinating the ADC’s activities during the election.
The party said an arrest shortly before the poll could be interpreted as an attempt to restrict his ability to perform his responsibilities as a senior opposition official.
“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,” it said.
ADC Warns Against Actions That Could Escalate Osun Tensions
The party linked the alleged plan to what it described as a broader pattern of intimidation and harassment of opposition figures, although it did not provide details of the alleged arrest plan or identify the security agency it believes intends to detain Aregbesola.
The ADC called on the authorities to avoid actions that could further inflame political tensions in the state.
“We therefore put the Federal Government and the security agencies on notice. The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said.
The party also warned that the conduct of the authorities before, during and after the election would shape public perceptions of the credibility of the process.
“Whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election will be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now,” it said.
The ADC further urged the Federal Government to respect political competition and allow opposition parties to participate fully in the election.
“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis,” the party said.
It added: “Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday.”
The allegations have not, in themselves, established that an arrest is planned, and the statement did not cite an official directive or publicly disclosed investigation to substantiate the claim.
With the election only days away, the ADC said it would continue monitoring developments and urged Nigerians to pay close attention to events surrounding the poll.
Segun Adeyemi serves as the Associate Editor of THEWILL Newspaper, leveraging more than ten years of editorial expertise and a proven track record in mainstream journalism.
