The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially expelled former Minister of Interior and two-term Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, over allegations of anti-party activities. The decision, confirmed in a letter from the party’s leadership on Wednesday, marks a dramatic fallout between Aregbesola and the APC, a party he once helped to build and lead in the state.

Aregbesola, who has been at the helm of a faction within the APC known as “The Osun Progressives” (later rebranded as the “Omoluabi Caucus”), was accused of breaching Article 21 of the party’s constitution, which outlines disciplinary measures for members. The expulsion letter, titled “Allegations of Anti-Party Activities – Conveyance of State Exco Decision to You,” stated that the State Executive Committee (SEC) had reviewed the findings of a disciplinary committee and unanimously approved his expulsion.

The letter read in part, “At the end of the investigation, the State Executive Committee (SEC) considered the report of the Disciplinary Committee. Having carefully reviewed the findings and recommendations, the SEC resolved to approve your immediate expulsion from the APC. The decision was predicated on clear evidence of your actions, which undermined the unity and integrity of the party. As a result, you are no longer a member of the APC and must refrain from holding yourself out as one or acting on behalf of the party in any capacity.”

The expulsion comes on the heels of a Sunday meeting of the Omoluabi Caucus, presided over by Aregbesola, where the group announced its decision to exit the APC. The caucus cited the party’s declining influence in Osun State and its inability to address internal grievances as reasons for their departure.

Aregbesola, a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, served as Osun State governor from 2010 to 2018 and later as Minister of Interior under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. However, his relationship with the APC has been strained in recent years, particularly following his public disagreements with the party’s leadership in Osun and his perceived alignment with opposition elements.