By Our Reporter
Rauf Aregbesola, the former Minister of Interior, has been suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to alleged anti-party activities and public criticisms aimed at President Bola Tinubu and former Governor Chief Bisi Akande.
Aregbesola, a two-term governor, openly opposed his successor, Adegoyega Oyetola, during the latter’s re-election campaign. He is also accused of collaborating with opposition forces during the 2022 Osun governorship elections and the 2023 general elections. In a controversial statement from 2022, he expressed a desire for divine intervention against the party’s leadership, including Tinubu and Akande, which drew significant backlash.
The APC leadership in Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa, where Aregbesola is from, established a disciplinary committee that found him guilty of anti-party activities. A letter from the Secretary of the State Disciplinary Committee, Comrade Waheed Adediran, dated October 24, 2024, outlined six grounds for his suspension.
The letter submitted to the APC’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, confirmed Aregbesola’s suspension and stated: “The State Executive Committee (SEC) has constituted a Disciplinary Committee to investigate the allegations against Aregbesola, which violate Article 21(2) of the party’s Constitution, particularly regarding activities that undermine the collective interests of the APC.”
Specific allegations include:
*Factionalization of the party and the creation of splinter groups, such as the Omoluabi Caucus.
*Collaboration with opposition parties to undermine the APC.
*Public criticisms of party leaders, including President Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, and Governor Oyetola.
*A lack of participation in party activities.
*Not voting for the party since the 2019 general elections.