A former governor of Osun state and ex-Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has been suspended by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress on the grounds of anti-party activities.
The Ilesa East Local Government APC Executive Committee, has accused the former minister of involving in activities that undermined the APC, and petitioned the state party chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, to take action against him.
In addition to publicly criticising party leaders such as President Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, and former Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola, Aregbesola is accused of factionalising the APC by creating the Omoluabi Caucus splinter group, working with opposition parties to destabilise the APC in Osun State, refusing to support or participate in APC activities within the state, and not voting for the party since the 2019 general elections.
In a resolution submitted to the APC National Secretariat and addressed to National Chairman Dr. Umar Ganduje, the suspension takes immediate effect, which is pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings initiated by the state’s party leadership.
The Executive Committee of the party in the state has also noted that it has established a disciplinary panel to investigate the charges layed against the former minister.
In its resolution dated October 22, titled “Resolution Suspending Rauf Aregbesola for Anti-Party Activities and Constituting a Disciplinary Committee,” which was signed by Osun APC Chairman Lawal and Secretary Kamar Olabisi, Aregbesola’s suspension is based on Article 21 of the APC Constitution.
The statement partly read: “Following complaints of anti-party activities leveled against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by the Ilesa 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.”
Meanwhile, Aregbesola has also been issued a formal notice of invite to appear and defend himself against the allegations. Waheed Adediran, the secretary of the Osun APC Disciplinary Committee, signed a follow-up letter on October 24 giving the former governor 48 hours to provide a written response to the accusations. The committee pointed out that his response will be crucial to its examination of the six accusations made against him.
Following this, the committee will deliver its findings and recommendations to the state executive within 14 days.
