The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun has suspended Rauf Aregbesola, a former governor of the state, for alleged anti-party activities.
The party accused Aregbesola, a former minister of interior, of creating splinter groups within the APC and making public statements against President Bola Tinubu, former Osun Governor Bisi Akande, and Gboyega Oyetola, the current minister of marine and blue economy.
The Osun APC’s state working committee reported that it found merit in the allegations brought against Aregbesola by local party executives in Ilesa East, his home area.
In a letter addressed to the national working committee (NWC) of the party, Tajudeen Lawal and Alao Kamoru, chair and secretary of the APC in Osun, stated that Aregbesola had violated Article 21 (2) of the party’s constitution. “Following complaints of anti-party activities leveled against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by the Ilesa East Local Government executive committee, the State Executive Committee (SEC) has reviewed the allegations and, in accordance with Article 21(3)(vi)(c) of the party’s constitution, hereby suspends Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from the party pending the outcome of an investigation by a disciplinary committee,” the letter said.
The SEC has established a disciplinary committee to investigate the claims and allow Aregbesola to respond to the allegations, particularly those that allegedly undermine the interests of the APC.
Tensions between Tinubu and Aregbesola have persisted since 2020, when Aregbesola restructured the Mandate Group, a faction loyal to Tinubu, without his approval, appointing Abdullahi Enilolobo, a close associate, as its new leader.
In 2022, attempts by mutual friends to reconcile the two leaders ahead of the 2023 general elections were unsuccessful, leaving their relationship strained.