Anti-party: Aregbesola’s camp mum, as APC suspends ex-gov

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has announced the immediate suspension of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings against him.

Aregbesola’s suspension followed a resolution by the party’s executive committee of the Ilesa East Local Government, which requested disciplinary action against the party stalwart who served as Interior Minister in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, in a letter addressed to the party’s state chairman, Mr Tajudeen Lawal.

The local government APC executive accused Aregbesola of anti-party activities and demanded action against him to restore party discipline and deter other members from engaging in such actions.

Responding to the request by the Ilesa East branch of the party, the Osun State APC executive committee, in a resolution addressed to the party’s National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, informed the national leadership of the allegations against Aregbesola.

The resolution, dated October 22, 2024, titled “Resolution suspending Rauf Aregbesola for anti-party activities and constituting a disciplinary committee,” was obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday and signed by the Osun APC chairman, Lawal and the secretary, Kamar Olabisi.

It partly read “Following complaints of anti-party activities levelled against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by the llesa East Local Government Executive Committee, the State Executive Committee (SEC), after reviewing the allegations and in accordance with 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 Commíttee has constituted a disciplinary committee to investigate and provide Ogbeni Aregbesola with the opportunity to respond to the allegations of activities deemed to be in violation of 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; working with opposition parties

to undermine the APC in the state; public outbursts against the leaders of the party, including Mr President, H.E. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), Chief Bisi Akande and H.E. Gboyega

Oyetola, among others; has an open refusal to show up or support any party activities in the state; and has refused to vote for the party since after the 2019 general elections.

“The committee is to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the State Executive Committee within 14 days from the date of this resolution.

“The disciplinary committee, pursuant to Article 21 (3), will

formally communicate this resolution to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and inform him of his right to appear before it to defend himself against the allegations.

“The State Executive Committee wishes to reaffirm its unwavering commitment to maintaining party discipline in Osun. We, therefore, urge our members to refrain from any activity that would negatively impact the integrity, unity, and electoral fortunes of the APC in Osun State.

“The party will not hesitate to activate necessary disciplinary

actions against members who are found to have violated the party’s constitution and engage in anti-party activities.”

Meanwhile, the disciplinary committee has written to Aregbesola, requesting him to respond to the allegations against him in writing within 48 hours of receiving the letter.

The letter, dated October 24 and signed by Waheed Adediran, the Secretary of the Osun APC Disciplinary Committee, said Aregbesola’s response would enable the committee to investigate the six allegations levelled against him.

Efforts to get a reaction to the development failed. Several calls to the spokesperson of the Omoluabi Caucus, a group supported by Aregbesola in the state, Oluwaseun Abosede, and Mr Sola Fasure, who was the media adviser to the ex-governor when he was serving as minister, did not go through.

Also, responses to the text messages sent to the two of them were still being expected as of the time of filing this report.