Supporters of former minister Rauf Aregbesola within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state have undertaken a significant rebranding effort, renaming their faction as the “Omoluabi caucus.”
This move coincides with their decision to distance themselves from approximately seventy-nine members who were appointed as caretaker committee members for local government areas across the state by Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The history of the Aregbesola loyalists is marked by their opposition to the reelection of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola. Operating under the banner of “The Osun Progressives (TOP),” this faction emerged as a challenge to the established APC structure.
However, the Aregbesola loyalists faction faced dissolution in December 2023, led by one of their prominent figures, former Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salam.
In a recent development, Adelowo Adebiyi, who serves as the chairman of the now-defunct faction, issued a statement on Thursday announcing the rebranding of their group as the “Omoluabi caucus.” This strategic move underscores their determination to consolidate their presence and influence within the Osun state APC.
The statement reads: “We wish to state that whosoever that has been appointed into political offices by the Adeleke’s administration got such, practically on his or her individual’s connection and influence, and not on behalf of Omoluabi, or as compensation for defunct The Osun Progress (TOP) or Omoluabi caucus.
“We restated unequivocally that at no time did the defunct TOP enter into any agreement with the PDP to work for it; which might warrant the erroneous compensation as being falsely spread by the mischief makers. Those who feel strongly about their individual interests couldn’t be stopped from pursuing such, hence the situation whereby some of them accepted to serve in the PDP government.
He noted that: “We restate our commitment to the APC. On behalf of our Patron, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, we thank all those who had been steadfast and absolutely loyal within our tendency and urge all members to start the mobilisation work of politicians and voters in earnest for the APC, our party ahead of future elections.”