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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cried out over an alleged plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

The party, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it had received what it described as “credible reports” of moves to arrest the former Osun State governor in the days leading to the poll.

The ADC expressed concern that such an action could be intended to disrupt its campaign and election-day activities, particularly Aregbesola’s role in coordinating the party’s efforts.

“Given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised the conduct of this government towards the opposition, we cannot afford to dismiss these reports,” Abdullahi said.

Aregbesola, who governed Osun between 2010 and 2018 and later served as Minister of the Interior, is currently the national secretary of the opposition party.

The ADC expressed concern that such an action could be intended to disrupt its campaign and election-day activities, particularly Aregbesola’s role in coordinating the party’s efforts.

The ADC said any invitation by security agencies should follow due process, given Aregbesola’s political status and previous public offices.

“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,” the party said.

It warned that arresting him shortly before the election could be interpreted as an attempt to weaken the party’s participation in the poll.

“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,” the statement added.

The opposition party consequently urged the Federal Government and security agencies to avoid actions capable of undermining the credibility of the election.

“The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said, urging authorities to uphold democratic principles.

“Whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election will be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now.”

The ADC also called on the APC-led Federal Government to avoid measures that could heighten political tension in the state.

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

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A group operating under the aegis of the Plateau North Coalition has rejected the proposed one-term agenda by Kefas Ropshik of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and endorsed Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for a second term in 2027.

The group said its position was aimed at ensuring the smooth running of governance and maintaining the zoning arrangement in Plateau State.

In a press statement issued in Jos and signed by Gyang Dalyop Pam and Ajik Agwom, the coalition said the people of Plateau could not trust Ropshik with political office, arguing that he had not previously been entrusted with any political position, hence his assertion will violate to zoning arrengement in the state.

The group also commended Governor Mutfwang for his courage, resilience and equitable distribution of infrastructure across the state. It argued that introducing a new candidate from Plateau Central at this critical point in the state’s history would amount to taking Plateau backwards.

“The people of Plateau North cannot trust any politician from Plateau Central at the moment apart from Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, who has shown leadership qualities and demonstrated that Plateau can be governed on the basis of equity, fairness and justice,” the statement said.

The coalition maintained that Plateau State could not afford to take any action that would undermine the progress recorded under the current administration.

“We cannot take any action at this moment that will take Plateau State backwards. Plateau North is willing to support Governor Mutfwang to complete his second tenure and hand over to Plateau North. We are not in for stories at this moment, and Kefas Ropshik cannot be trusted for a single term,” the group stated.

The group therefore called on the people of Plateau North, and Plateau State at large, to support Governor Mutfwang’s second-term bid, arguing that his completion of another term would help preserve the state’s zoning arrangement and ensure continuity in governance.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election, Adedamola Adebayo, popularly known as FRYO, has pulled out from the race and endorsed the re-election bid of Governor Ademola Adebayo

He announced his withdrawal on Wednesday during a press conference in Osogbo, just three days before the election.

The PDP’s candidate withdrawal comes three days before the poll and is expected to affect the political calculations ahead of the election.

According to Adebayo, the decision followed extensive consultations and a careful assessment of the political situation in Osun.

He said his withdrawal was motivated by what he described as the broader interest of the state rather than personal political ambition.

Adebayo stressed that political leadership sometimes required taking difficult decisions, even when such decisions might not be popular among supporters.

He said: “After extensive consultations and careful consideration, I have decided to endorse His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in the August 15 gubernatorial election in Osun State.

The former PDP candidate said he was solely responsible for the decision and had communicated his position to party leaders, members and stakeholders.

He subsequently urged PDP members and his supporters to support Adeleke’s re-election bid.

Adebayo acknowledged that some of his supporters might disagree with his position but appealed to them to respect differing opinions, describing such disagreements as part of the democratic process.

He also called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to reject violence, intimidation, hate speech and other forms of electoral hostility before, during and after the election.