Insiders Tell How Gov Adeleke Will Profit From Aregbesola’s Suspension
Members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State are reportedly in a celebration mood, but going about it discreetly, available information has revealed.
This development, according to information pieced together by highstreet.ng, came to be following the recent suspension of the former Governor of Osun State and Ex-Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Osun State chapter of the APC announced Aregbesola’s suspension on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, citing allegations of anti-party activities.
The pronouncement follows a request from the Ilesa East Local Government APC Executive Committee in a petition to the state party chairman, Tajudeen Lawal for disciplinary action against the former governor.
Aregbesola’s sins, according to the letter, include, factionalizing the APC by forming the Omoluabi Caucus splinter group; allegedly collaborating with opposition parties to destabilize the APC in Osun State; publicly criticizing party leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, and former Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola; refusing to participate in or support APC activities within the state; and refusing to vote for the party since the 2019 general elections.
Highstreet.ng understands, this happened days after Mr Aregbesola vowed to reclaim Osun for Progressives in 2026 at a meeting of his political group – Omoluabi Progressives – where membership cards were presented to key leaders of the caucus.
Interestingly, the ruling PDP has seen the ex-minister’s expulsion and a crisis-ridden Osun APC as catalysts that would transform Gov Ademola Adeleke and their party as major beneficiaries of the situation as the governorship election in the state approaches.
“They believe booting out an Aregbesola, who boasts of cult of followers with his Omoluabi Caucus, will boost Adeleke’s chances of returning for another term, a source told highstreet,ng,
Another gubernatorial election will be held in Osun State in 2026.
“They have every reason to celebrate… it’s obvious that incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke will largely profit from the ranging crisis in the APC with Aregbesola and his successor Adegboyega Oyetola as principal actors”, those with knowledge of happenings in Osun politics maintained.
Oyetola – a former governor of Osun State between 2018 and 2022 -, courtesy of his position as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy in the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is officially the leader of APC in Osun State.
And, there are indications Mr. Oyetola still has a score to settle with Aregbesola, the man who played a lead role in the arrangement that limited him to a single term in 2022.
