How We Plan To Take Over In OSUN State

• Ogbeni RAUF AREGBESOLA Reveals

If there is one governorship election everyone is looking forward to right now, it is the Osun State governorship election coming up next year. Right now, it is unclear where the pendulum will swing when the results of the polls are released. The political tension brewing in the state is palpable. The different political parties in the state are gearing up for what may likely be the mother of all showdowns when the parties and their gubernatorial candidates go to the battle field come 2026.

While many believe the incumbent governor, His Excellency Jackson Adeleke, has done more than enough to secure for himself a second term, with his impressive infrastructural projects visible all over the state’s landscape, some others believe his first four years have left a lot to be desired. They believe the ruling party, APC, is capable of dislodging him. But the group that will lighten up the political landscape in the state is the former governor Rauf Aregbesola’s Omoluabi group which will metamorphose into a full fledged political party anytime from now. And they want to take over power in the state very badly. This development has created a sense of fear and apprehension within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State as the Omoluabi Progressives has continued to tell anyone that cares to listen that it means business, it wants to decide who wins the 2026 governorship election in the state and change the political narrative of the state. And if feelers reaching City People are anything to go by, this is no empty threat,

The leader of the Omoluabi group, Rauf Aregbesola, last week while addressing a gathering of his teeming followers and supporters, emphasized the objectives of his political movement, Omoluabi Progressives Caucus.

“Our shared goal remains clear: to reclaim our dear state and nation for progress, unity, and holistic development,” the immediate past Minister for Interior stressed while providing an update on the political group’s monthly stakeholders’ meeting in Osun State.

Omoluabi Progressives Caucus, which has gained significant traction in less than a year, held its monthly stakeholders’ meeting with more and more supporters and sfollowers throwing their weight behind him.

According to Aregbesola, who provided insight into the meeting the same day, it brought together local government coordinators and selected political leaders across the state.

“At the meeting, I emphasized the importance of mobilizing grassroots politicians and leaders of thought to fortify our resolve to entrench good governance in our state,” the former two-term Governor of Osun State stated.

He added, “I urged all members to embody the spirit of resilience, dedication, love, and unity, which are the bedrock of every successful endeavor. I also reminded them of the need to fully align with our core ethos of discipline, courage, character, and competence.”

Launched on August 22, 2023, the political group, also known as “Omoluabi Tendency,” emerged amid a high-stakes power struggle between Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola, a key player in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Oyetola, who was Aregbesola’s Chief of Staff, succeeded him as Governor of Osun State in 2018.But unlike Aregbesola, who served two terms, Oyetola was limited to a single tenure of four years, largely due to his inability to secure re-election—a situation linked to his rivalry with his predecessor. The development led to a full-blown political conflict, significantly reducing Aregbesola’s influence within the APC.

He launched Omoluabi Progressives in August 2023 as a caucus of “genuine foundation members of APC.”

However, the move led to the expulsion and suspension of many of his loyalists by the faction controlled by Oyetola and his supporters.

Rather than weaken the group, this emboldened the former minister and his supporters. They embarked on an aggressive awareness campaign and membership drive that has made them a significant force in Osun’s political landscape and a topic of discussion beyond the state.

Aregbesola expressed satisfaction with these developments, revealing, “I expressed great joy at the ongoing membership registration exercise, which has recorded remarkable growth. I encouraged everyone to continue inviting more people to join our ranks and strengthen our collective resolve.”

Although the APC in Osun State announced Aregbesola’s suspension from the party in October 2024 over alleged anti-party activities, widely believed to be tied to the rising profile of his Omoluabi Progressives, the former Minister has refused to dignify the action with any response,.Instead, he continues to focus on his recsolve to reclaim his powerful position in Osun State. This is why he is urging his supporters to brace up for the big one coming next year, it is called mission reclaim Osun state.

It will be recalled that, a couple of weeks ago, the Chairman of the Omoluabi group, Alhaji Abdulazeez Adesiji, speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Osogbo over the weekend, outlined the group’s long-term goals, with a clear focus on reclaiming the state government in the 2026 elections.

When asked about the group’s specific plans for the future, Adesiji hinted at major announcements coming in December. “We have a plan, but we are waiting for the right time. Before the end of December, we will know the exact direction we are taking.” The Chairman held that, “Our cards are ready. As we did for our key leaders in Ilesa, we have commenced the issuance of cards across Osun. By the time we are done, members will have access to many more packages that will espouse our distinctiveness. “When we tell people that Omoluabi Progressives is coming to take the reins of power in the state, they will think we are playing. They will think we don’t know what we are doing. “They should wait for us. We are not making mouth about it. Check where the genuine progressives are. They are all Omoluabis.

“Our principles accommodate everyone who see politics as a way to better the lives of the people. We are not after pecuniary, but seek to drive the development that the people desire in any government. “By the grace of God, we will not let the people down,” the ex-council boss stressed.

Meanwhile, the caucus according to its spokesperson, Comrade Abosede Oluwaseun, had begun the official presentation of membership/registration cards to its members across the state. A former Special Adviser on Business, Science, and Technology in Osun, and President of the Omoluabi Group in Osogbo Federal Constituency, Muhideen Olateju, highlighted the group’s ongoing efforts to reconnect with party leaders and members at the grassroots level.

He explained that the group has been engaging with local government leaders and party members across Osun since last month, with the visits aimed at assessing the strength and readiness of their supporters ahead of the next political phase.

“We have been moving around all our local governments, checking on party leaders and members to ensure everything is in place. By December, we plan to roll out the next line of action. From what we’ve seen so far, our members are very much intact, and the people of Osun are ready to welcome our party back,” Olateju said. He further emphasised that the Omoluabi faction remains a significant force within the APC in Osun State, despite internal party frictions.

Former Senior Special Assistant under Aregbesola, Hon. Wale Alabi, noted that the Omoluabi group is not a separate political entity but a loyalist structure within the larger progressive family. He acknowledged the tension between the faction and other parts of the APC, stating that some within the party have sought to sideline the group, but its loyalty to Aregbesola remains unwavering.

“Omoluabi Progressive is a tendency within the APC, loyal to Aregbesola. While others may not want to see us succeed, we cannot simply wind up because of that. Our loyalty remains, and whatever Aregbesola says, we follow.

“Today, we have members from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and even other APC factions joining us. We’ve seen the collapse of entire structures from Ward 9 of Olorunda Local Government, where the SDP members have aligned with us, and similar defections from the APC’s Ilerioluwa faction,” Alabi said.

-WALE LAWAL

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