ADC Warns Against Planned Arrest of Aregbesola Ahead of Osun Election
Abuja / Osogbo – August 12, 2026 — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm over what it described as credible reports of plans to arrest its National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in the days leading up to Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
In a strongly worded press statement issued on Wednesday by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party put the Federal Government and security agencies on notice, warning that any such action would be widely interpreted as an attempt to disrupt the opposition’s election activities.
The ADC said it could not dismiss the reports in light of what it called a growing pattern of intimidation, harassment and alleged misuse of state institutions against opposition figures.
“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 noted.
“If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so.”
The party argued that an arrest on the eve of an election in which the ADC is actively participating “would invite only one reasonable conclusion: that the purpose is to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party’s election activities.”
It further cautioned the APC-led Federal Government against any move that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis, reminding authorities that Nigeria remains a democracy.
Aregbesola, who governed Osun State from 2010 to 2018 and later served as Minister of Interior, has been a central figure in the ADC’s campaign.
The party’s governorship candidate, Dr Najeem Salaam (also referred to as Najeem Salam), a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly who served under Aregbesola, is positioned as a third force in a competitive race that also features incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji.
In recent days, Aregbesola has publicly stated that the ADC is contesting the election to win and is not entering into any alliance or partnership with other parties.
He has been joined by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ADC National Chairman David Mark in rallying support for Salaam, promising a return to people-centered programs such as youth employment schemes and school feeding initiatives.
The ADC has emerged as a significant opposition platform following a coalition of major political figures who adopted the party as a vehicle to challenge the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Aregbesola’s position as National Secretary places him at the heart of the party’s national and state-level strategies.
As the August 15 poll approaches, the ADC’s warning underscores rising political tensions in Osun State.
The party insisted that whatever happens before, during, and after the election will be judged by the actions taken now rather than by explanations offered afterwards.
Security agencies and the Federal Government had not issued any public response to the ADC’s claims at the time of filing this report.
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