Alleged Anti-Party: APC Wields The Big Stick, Suspends Tinubu’s Former Mobiliser, Aregbesola

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has wielded its big stick against the former Governor of Osun State and ex-minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, over alleged anti-party activities.

Part of the reasons adduced by the APC for suspending Aregbesola, who was once one of the main mobilisers for the Tinubu political machine and leader of the Mandate Group in Lagos, was as a result of what the Party described as his public outbursts against key party leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Governor Chief Bisi Akande.

His suspension followed a series of internal conflicts between Aregbesola and his successor, Gboyega Oyetola, whose re-election bid in the 2022 Osun governorship election Aregbesola openly opposed and worked against as he allegedly collaborated with the opposition forces during both the 2022 governorship and 2023 general elections.

In 2022, Aregbesola made headlines when he openly prayed for divine intervention to “bring down” the leadership of the APC, including Tinubu and Akande, a statement that was met with widespread criticism.

Accordingly, the APC leadership in Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa, which is Aregbesola’s hometown, set up a disciplinary committee to investigate the allegations against him which was followed up with a letter dated October 24, 2024, by the Secretary of the State Disciplinary Committee, Mr Waheed Adediran, with reference number APC/OS/RA/01, and addressed to Aregbesola for which the party found him guilty on six counts of anti-party conduct.

The letter, endorsed by the Osun State APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, and Secretary, Alao Kamoru, stated that Aregbesola’s suspension was predicated upon the outcome of further investigation.

The letter which was submitted to the National Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, confirmed the suspension.

It stated; “Following the committee’s review, the State Executive Committee (SEC) of Ilesa East Local Government has invoked its powers under Article 21(3)(vi)(c) of the party’s constitution to suspend Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from the APC pending an investigation into allegations of anti-party activities”.

The Party also accused Aregbesola of creating splinter groups like the “Omoluabi Caucus” within the party, supported by video evidence of their activities in Iwo as well as establishing parallel party structures in Osun State.

Aregbesola was also accused of collaborating with opposition parties to undermine the APC’s interests as was alleged to have admitted at the Ataoja’s Palace in Osogbo on January 4, 2024.

The former governor of Osun State was also alleged to have failed to support or participate in party activities within the state as well as abstained from voting for APC since the 2019 general elections.

Meanwhile, the executive committee of the Osun State chapter of the APC, has constituted a Disciplinary Committee to give Aregbesola an opportunity to respond to the allegations before further action is taken.