The Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has announced the immediate suspension of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings against him.
Aregbesola’s suspension follows a resolution by the Ilesa East Local Government Executive Committee of the APC, which sent a letter to the Osun State APC Chairman, Mr. Tajudeen Lawal, requesting disciplinary action against the party stalwart.
Aregbesola, who also served as Minister of Interior under the administration of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), was accused of engaging in anti-party activities.
In response, the Osun State APC Executive Committee adopted the request from Ilesa East and formally communicated the allegations against Aregbesola to the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje. A resolution dated October 22, 2024, titled “yc4c5 Suspending Rauf Aregbesola for Anti-Party Activities and Constituting a Disciplinary Committee,” was obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday. The document was signed by Osun APC Chairman Lawal and the Secretary, Kamar Olabisi.
The resolution 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 into the allegations by a Disciplinary Committee.
“The State Executive Committee has constituted a Disciplinary Committee to investigate and provide Ogbeni Aregbesola with the opportunity to respond to the allegations of activities deemed to be in violation of Article 21 (2) of the party’s Constitution, particularly relating to anti-party activities that undermine the collective interests of the APC leveled against him as follows:
– Factionalisation of the party with the creation of splinter groups, i.e., the Omoluabi Caucus;
– Working with opposition parties to undermine the APC in the State;
– Public outbursts against the leaders of the party, including Mr. President, H.E. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), Chief Bisi Akande, and H.E. Gboyega Oyetola, among others;
– Refusal to attend or support any party activities in the State; and
– Refusal to vote for the party since after the 2019 general elections.
“The Committee is to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the State Executive Committee within 14 days from the date of this resolution. The Disciplinary Committee, pursuant to Article 21 (3), will formally communicate this resolution to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and inform him of his right to appear before it to defend himself against the allegations.
“The State Executive Committee wishes to reaffirm its unwavering commitment to maintaining party discipline in Osun. We, therefore, urge our members to refrain from any activity that would negatively impact the integrity, unity, and electoral fortunes of the APC in Osun State. The party will not hesitate to activate necessary disciplinary actions against members who are found to have violated the party’s constitution and engaged in anti-party activities.”
Meanwhile, the Disciplinary Committee has formally written to Aregbesola, requesting a written response to the allegations within 48 hours of receiving the letter.
The correspondence, dated October 24 and signed by Waheed Adediran, Secretary of the Osun APC Disciplinary Committee, stated that Aregbesola’s response would allow the committee to investigate the six allegations leveled against him.
