By Jeleel Olawale
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Osun, Alhaji Tajudeen Lawal, has stated that members of the party that involved in anti-party activities during the governorship and general elections in the state will not be spared.
Lawal made this known at a welcome home party organised by the APC Reformation Forum in Ijesa Federal Constituency for Ijesa sons who served at the National and State Assembly, as well as in the cabinet of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, on Sunday in Ilesa.
The APC lost the July 16, 2022 governorship election and all the national assembly seats to the PDP due to a party crisis. The Chairman hence encouraged “genuine members” not to lose hope and to work hard and be committed so that the party can return to power in 2026.
“No member of the party engaged in anti-party during the last governorship and general elections in the state will be spared.
“I want to appeal to genuine members of the party not to lose hope because, come 2026, we shall return to power,” he said.
Lawal refuted the elders’ caucus’ statement that the immediate past Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, should seek genuine forgiveness in order to rejoin the party.
“I read what the Igbimo Agba (elder caucus) of our party said, but they are in the advisory role of the party. The party, in no distant time, will state its position on it.
“Meanwhile, we must be clear about this, we are not restructuring the party. The party is intact in Osun under Baba Bisi Akande and Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola,” he said.
The awardee, the immediate past Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, advised party members to work together in harmony and promote peace. He also said that unity in the party would make it easier for them to win the 2026 elections.
Similarly, another awardee at the event, the immediate past state commissioner for works, Oluremi Omowaye, stated that members of the party who engaged in anti-party activities must be sanctioned before they are allowed back. Omowaye emphasised that although politics is a game of numbers, the party should not tolerate indiscipline.
“I am an advocate of ‘the more the merrier’, but it is important we send a message to those involved in anti-party activities so that next time, another set of people won’t engage in such acts.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee of the event, Mr Lukman Abubakre, stated that the occasion was arranged to recognise the dedication of sons and daughters of Ijesa land to serving their homeland.