The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has extended an invitation to supporters of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola to join its ranks following their decision to sever ties with the All Progressives Congress.
The call came after the Omoluabi Progressives, a political group loyal to Aregbesola, announced on Sunday that it was cutting ties with the APC, citing grievances over alleged marginalisation within the party.
In response, the Osun APC dismissed the group’s exit as inconsequential, stating that its members had effectively left since 2022. The party described their departure as “good riddance” and insisted it was unbothered by the announcement.
Addressing the matter in Osogbo on Tuesday, Osun PDP’s Director of Media and Publicity, Oladele Bamiji, described Aregbesola as a major political force in the state.
He acknowledged the former Minister of Interior’s influence and emphasised that the PDP remains open to all progressives seeking a party that prioritises inclusivity and good governance.
“Let me say that former governor Rauf Aregbesola is a big player in the political field of Osun State,” Bamiji said.
“There is just nothing anybody can do about that. As a former governor for eight years, I am not sure it will be reasonable enough to wish him away in the political calculation of the state.
“That being said, as at the last we checked, he was a member of the opposition APC in Osun State and we are also aware that there is internal bickering in their party, which to us is not a new thing. It is normal in politics because of differences in ambitions, ideas and all that.
“Yes, we heard he exited APC as a party. We don’t have the full facts of that. There are many funny things in politics—perhaps his group might be saying that to achieve another end that is not really open to the public.
“So, we all have to be very cautious. Politics is not straightforward mathematics. You can take a step to achieve another step.
“We don’t know about his exit from APC, but PDP will be interested in having him and his supporters if they are interested in joining us.
“Politics is a game of numbers, and PDP has popularity already, and we have a solid candidate that is loved by people.”
Bamiji further stated that the PDP was now the dominant party in Osun and had become the preferred choice for many politicians, thanks to the achievements of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration.
Meanwhile, a prominent member of the Omoluabi Progressives, who spoke anonymously, dismissed speculations about the group’s next political destination.
“It is still a bird kept inside a calabash. It can’t be known until it is revealed. People should not bother about it. We are coming out in a solid way,” he said.