Scared of losing his grip of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and in a bid to destabilise the party in Osun, former Governor Gboyega Oyetola working with the National Secretary of the Party, Ajibola Basiru, last Tuesday finalised plan to expel and suspend members of the party in Osun, a source in the know has informed OSUN DEFENDER.
Between Wednesday and Thursday, not less than 100 prominent members of the party, some of who are working to reposition the party towards its winning ways ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election in the state have either been expelled or suspended by the State Executive Council.
Prominent amongst those suspended include Mr. Oyetola’s contender for the 2022 party’s gubernatorial ticket, Alh. Moshood Adeoti, who served alongside Oyetola in former governor Aregbesola’s administration as Secretary to the State Government.
Other bigwigs include former Speaker of the Osun Assembly, Dr. Najeem Salaam, former State Chairman of the party, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, Barr. Gbenga Akano, Hon. Adelani Baderinwa, Hon. Gbenga Ogunkanmi, amongst other foundation members of the Osun APC.
The suspension, it was gathered, was part of moves to completely silence voices, which have continued to call for the harmonisation of the party, following the outcome of the last three major elections in the state.
According to findings by OSUN DEFENDER, the decision was quickly hatched because of the intervention of key party stakeholders led by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to bring together committed foundation members of the party together again, under the Omoluabi Caucus, to further strengthen it for future elections.
It was also learnt that the expulsion and suspension was done in a hurry without recourse to the party’s constitution.
Article 9.5 of the APC Constitution (as amended) which talks about the cessation of membership of the party states that: “Membership of the Party shall be terminated by death, resignation, expulsion and procurement of membership of another political party; A person shall cease to be a member of the Party if he accepts political appointment from another political party in government without the approval of the National Working Committee; and Upon cessation of membership, a person shall return to the Party all its properties in his or her possession.”
Investigations revealed that the National Working Committee of the party which is due to effect either expulsion/suspension of any member was neither consulted before the decision of the State Executive Committee, according to the statement announcing the expulsion signed by Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, State Chairman of the APC in Osun and a lackey of Mr. Oyetola.
While those suspended and expelled were neither invited by an independent committee to interrogate the allegations, OSUN DEFENDER also noted that the said allegations had no sources or known backing by genuine members of the party, but accomplices of the former governor and the party’s National Secretary.
A source who does not want his name in print said: “Don’t you see that this is funny. Suspension and Expulsion is holding without recourse to the wards where the respective individuals are from. There was not even a single time these leaders were invited for questioning on the roles they played. We are even not discouraged. It is comedy taken too far.”
As at the time of this report, foundation members of the party told OSUN DEFENDER that no effort will be spared to further reposition the party.
