The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned against plans to arrest the former governor of Osun State and the party’s national secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s election in the state.

The party’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement on Wednesday, raised the alarm, saying the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions had increasingly characterised the conduct of the government towards the opposition.

He stated that the party could not afford to dismiss the reports.

“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,” he said.

He noted that an arrest on the eve of an election in which his party was participating would invite only one reasonable conclusion, adding that the purpose was to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party’s election activities.

“We, therefore, put the federal government and the security agencies on notice. The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Mr Abdullahi said.

He stated that whatever happened before, during and after Saturday’s election would be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now.

The party’s spokesman said the government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into a needless crisis.

“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” he added.

This comes amid heightened tensions and pre-election violence recorded in the state which also included a federal lawmaker in the state, Francis Fadahunsi who represents Osun East senatorial district calling on APC supporters to kill” Accord Party members in IIesa.