The All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State Chapter has sued a former Governor of the State, Rauf Aregbesola, before a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, for allegedly factionalising the party.
The party, through its counsels, Ayodele Kusamotu, Yemi Akingbade, R. Oloyede and B. Nwayen, asked the court to declare that the former governor cannot validly lead suspended members and other persons associating with them to launch a political faction and parallel-group, named Omoluabi Progressives, within the party.
The former Minister of Interior had recently launched Omoluabi Progressives within Osun APC.
In the suit, with number FHC/OS/CS/1/2024, filed before an Osogbo Federal High Court, APC contended that the launch of a factional political group within the party, with the use of the party’s logo, symbol and slogan, contravenes its constitution and that of the nation.
DAILY GIST reports that Aregbesola had formed a new group, ‘Omoluabi Progressive Caucus’ in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State.
Aregbesola, also a two-term governor of the state, launched the group in Ilesa.
He was a close associate of President Bola Tinubu until they fell out over the candidate of the APC in Osun for the 2022 governorship election.
Gboyega Oyetola, who was the APC candidate, lost the election. The party did not recover from the defeat before the 2023 elections, losing from the presidential to the state House of Assembly polls
Many attributed the losses to anti-party activities of the followers of Mr Aregbesola.
Efforts to broker peace between him and Oyetola were rebuffed.
Following his defeat at the governorship poll, Oyetola was appointed as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy by President Bola Tinubu.
