Crisis Hits Osun Factional APC Over Gubernatorial Ticket

The crisis may have broken out within 'The Osun Progressives (TOP)', a faction of the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to Interior Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The crisis started when the group had a mini primary election at the residence of the former governor in Ilesha last Sunday.

The former Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam got the highest support to vie for the APC ticket against incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

Those seeking the support of the group for the gubernatorial primary are Salaam, former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuff.

Sources said the group had agreed not to obtain another form as the one obtained by Lasun Yusuff will be used by whoever gets the group’s support.

After Aregbesola, who presided over the meeting skipped the announcement of the group’s choice, stating that consultation will continue, he, however, set up a reconciliation committee led by the Chairman of TOP, Lowo Adebiyi to pacify the Ilobu-born politician and Adeoti to allow the wish of the majority to prevail.

However, news filtered after the meeting that Salaam would get the group’s nod to contest against Oyetola.

Sources close to Lasun revealed that things did not go well with the former number six-man in Nigeria.

One of Lasun’s aides, Niyi Ogunsola was on Thursday sighted at the APC national headquarters to submit his form, which signalled the ongoing internal crisis within the group.

One of his aides also confirmed the development on Saturday.

Sources also confirmed that Adeoti, Salaam and some leaders of TOP are currently in Abuja and they have expressed shock over the move by the former Deputy Speaker.