The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, over alleged anti-party activities and public outbursts directed at party leaders, including President Bola Tinubu and former Governor Chief Bisi Akande. Aregbesola, who served as Osun State governor for two terms, had previously opposed the re-election bid of his successor, Adegoyega Oyetola, and was accused of aligning with opposition parties during the 2022 Osun governorship and 2023 general elections.
The suspension followed a disciplinary process initiated by APC’s Ward 8 in Ifofin, Ilesa, where Aregbesola resides. A disciplinary committee found him guilty on several grounds, including factionalizing the party by creating groups like the “Omoluabi Caucus,” working with opposition forces, and making statements critical of APC leadership. According to a letter by the Secretary of the State Disciplinary Committee, Comrade Waheed Adediran, dated October 24, 2024, the committee recommended Aregbesola’s suspension due to “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.”
In a statement, the State Executive Committee cited Aregbesola’s “public outbursts against leaders of the party, including President, H.E. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), Chief Bisi Akande, and H.E. Gboyega Oyetola.” The committee added that he had engaged in “factionalisation of the party with the creation of splinter groups… creation of parallel organs within the party,” and further accused him of “refusal to show up or support any party activities in the State” and not voting for the party since 2019.
The Osun APC has now suspended Aregbesola from the party pending a thorough investigation, stating that the former governor will have “the opportunity to respond to the allegations” before the disciplinary committee. This development has been formally communicated to APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and emphasizes the party’s commitment to addressing actions that “undermine the APC’s collective interests.”
