The Tajudeen Lawal-led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, to declare a caucus of the party, Omoluabi Progressives Osun illegal, for alleged factionalisation of the party.
The Osun APC led by Mr. Lawal, an active operative of the Ilerioluwa Caucus and a lackey of the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, through its counsel, Ayodele Kusamotu, Yemi Akingbade, R.I.O Oloyede and B.J Nwayen also sought the court to pronounce that a former Governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, cannot validly lead suspended members of the party and other persons associating with them to launch a political factional and parallel group within the party.
The counsels of the Osun APC contended that the said launching of Omoluabi Progressives with the use of the party’s logo, symbol and slogan contravenes the constitution of Nigeria and party’s constitution, thereby seeking an order of the court to proscribe and prohibit the factional group within APC in Osun.
Joined in the suit marked FHC/OS/CS/1/2024 are former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, and three others including the Independent National Electoral Commission, Hon Rasheed Olalekan Afolabi and Mr. Lani Baderinwa.
Osun Defender recalls that Aregbesola, the immediate past Minister of Interior at the launch of Omoluabi Progressives Caucus had distanced the caucus from being a parallel structure or a factional group within the APC.
Aregbesola noted that the caucus is amalgamation of the foundation members of the progressive tendency in the state, which is allowed in the structure of any political party.
His words: “The Omoluabi Tendency is a caucus within the All Progressives Congress (APC); actually one of the caucuses in the state. We are not a faction. We are the genuine foundation members of the party and we have no intention of abandoning the ship of the party as it navigates the most turbulent waters. We are no sprinters, but long-distance runners and we will still be standing when all the fair-weathers have gone.
“A political party is actually an agglomeration of interests and tendencies. Reading well from the United States where we borrowed the Presidential System, we can see that the Republican Party is made up of big businesses, nationalists, religious right and others. The Democratic Party, on the other hand, is composed of welfarists, labour unions, ethnic and sexual minorities and others.
“They are together in the party because their interests are broadly similar and they believe the party is the right vehicle for them to realise their goals. Sometimes they compete and clash, but for most part, they cooperate and form strong bond to give their party the victory in every election cycle. The party loses anytime this bond is broken,” Ogbeni Aregbesola stated.
The suit reads further: “That the 2nd Defendant cannot validly lead the 3rd-4th defendants who are Suspended members of the plaintiff or any other person or persons to for a parallel political association or group within a similar or same name of the plaintiff by suing the plaintiff’s logo, symbol and slogan without registration with the 1st Defendant in compliance with the provisions of section 221 and 222 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and provisions of section 75(1)(2)(3) and 79(1)(2)(3)(a)(b)(c) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“That 2nd -4th Defendants cannot launch a parallel political or a factional political group or association similar or in a same name of the plaintiff to be holding political meeting with the logo , symbol and slogan of the plaintiff without registration with the 1st Defendant in compliance with the provisions of sections 221 and 222 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and provisions of sections 75(1)(2)(3) and 79(1)(2)(a)(b)(c) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from attending or recognizing or accepting any Congress or convention held or to be held by the 2nd -4th Defendants and any other persons associating with them in their factional and parallel political group or association for the purpose of inaugurating or constituting the Executive Council or Committee of the Plaintiff at any level or nominating candidates for any elective positions under the provisions of the Constitution
the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) in the name or on the platform of the plaintiff.
“An order prohibiting the illegal factional and parallel association of the 2nd -4 Defendants launched as Omoluabi Progressives (APC) in similar or same name of the plaintiff impersonating the plaintiff’s registered logo, symbol and slogan to function as a political group.
“General damages of (5,000,000.00) Five Million Naira jointly or severally against the 2nd -4th Defendants in favour of the plaintiff.
“Cost of Action at ( 2,000, 000.00) Two Million Naira jointly or severally against the 2nd -4th Defendants in favour of the plaintiff
“10% Interest on the judgement sum until final liquidation”.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
