* For alleged anti-party activities
The Osun State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the immediate suspension of Rauf Aregbesola, a former governor of the State, pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings against him.
Aregbesola served as Minister of Interior in President Muhammadu Buhaar’s administration.
The suspension is a sequel to a resolution by the Ilesa East Local Government Executive Committee of APC, which has requested disciplinary action against Aregbesola for anti-party activities.
The Ilesa East Exco believes swift action will restore party discipline and deter other members from engaging in anti-party activities.
The Osun State APC Executive Committee stated in a resolution submitted to APC’s National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, listed Aregbesola’s offences to include party fictionalisation, i.e., forming splinter groups and parallel organs, collaborating with opposition parties to unsettle the APC in Osun State, and public outbursts against party leaders, including President Bola Tinubu.
The former governor, who was Tinubu’s close ally, has been criticised within and outside the party over his perceived support for opposition factions during the last election cycle.
Meanwhile, the State Disciplinary Committee constituted by Osun State Exco has written to Aregbesola, requesting a formal response to ensure due process in accordance with the party’s constitution.
A member of Ilesa East’s Local Government Executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that Aregbesola’s suspension was made following a thorough investigation of the allegations.
In response to the suspension, sources close to Aregbesola characterised the allegations and suspension as politically motivated, implying that they were part of a premeditated attempt by the party’s leadership in the state to remove the former governor from the APC.
However, Aregbesola was yet to make any comment as of Tuesday night.