Breaking: Outbursts against Tinubu: APC suspends former Osun Gov. Aregbesola

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, a former Osun governor and immediate past Minister of Interior, for alleged anti-party activities and outbursts against President Bola Tinubu.

Aregbesola is also accused of criticizing former Osun Governor Bisi Akande and others.

Before the 2022 Osun governorship poll, Aregbesola, a two-term governor, clashed with his successor, Mr. Adegoyega Oyetola, by campaigning against his reelection.

He allegedly teamed up with the opposition, the PDP, for both the 2022 Osun governorship elections and the 2023 general elections.

He said in 2022 that he had prayed to God to overthrow the party’s leadership, including Tinubu and Akande, an outburst that drew widespread condemnation.

The APC leadership from Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa, where the ex-governor hails from, set up a disciplinary committee to investigate and found him guilty of anti-party activity.

Following a letter from the Secretary of the State Disciplinary Committee, Comrade Waheed Adediran, dated October 24, 2024, with reference number APC/OS/RA/01 to Aregbesola, Osun APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, and Secretary, Alao Kamoru, the party suspended him on six grounds, including anti-party activities.

A letter submitted to the APC’s National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said Aregbesola remains suspended.

It reads: “Following Committee, the State Executive Committee (SEC), llesa East Local Government Executive reviewing the allegations and by the powers vested in it by Article 21(3)(vi)(c) of the party’s Constitution, hereby suspends Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from the party pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations by a Disciplinary Committee.

“The State Executive Committee has constituted a Disciplinary Committee to investigate and provide Ogbeni Aregbesola with the opportunity to respond to the allegations of activities deemed to violate Article 21(2) of the party’s Constitution, particularly relating to anti-party activities that undermine the collective interests of the APC levelled against him as follows:

“Factionalisation of the party with the creation of splinter groups, i.e., the Omoluabi Caucus—a trending video of their recent activities in Iwo is here with attached; Creation of parallel organs within the party;

“Working with opposition parties to undermine the APC in the State -admission made at the Ataoja’s Palace 4th of January 2024, Osogbo; Public outbursts against the leaders of the party, including President, H.E. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), Chief Bisi Akande and H.E. Gboyega Oyetola, among others;

“Refusal to show up or support any party activities in the state; and Refusal to vote for the party since after the 2019 general elections.”