By: News Peddlers
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| President Bola Tinubu and Gboyega Oyetola |
Party members who participated in anti-party activities during the governorship and general elections in the state will not be spared, according to Tajudeen Lawal, the APC's chairman in Osun.
Mr. Lawal made this statement at a welcome-home party for Ijesa sons who served in the national and state legislatures as well as the cabinet of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola on Sunday in Ilesa, which was hosted by the APC Reformation Forum.
Due to a party crisis, APC lost the governorship election to PDP on July 16, 2022.
Additionally, the PDP won all seats in the national assembly from APC.
However, the chairman urged "genuine members" of the party to hold onto hope, saying that with dedication and hard work, the party would retake power in 2026.
"No member of the party involved 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 explained.
Moreover, Mr. Lawal disregarded a claim that the party's elders caucus believed Rauf Aregbesola, the party's former interior minister, should ask for genuine forgive before rejoining.
"I read what our party's Igbimo Agba (elder caucus) said, but they are only serving in an 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,” he added. “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.”
The party's former speaker of the state assembly, Timothy Owoeye, urged party members to support unionism and peace.
One of the event's award recipients, Mr. Owoeye, noted that the party's ability to win back power in 2026 would be made easier by party unity.
Oluremi Omowaye, the former commissioner for works, added that party members engaged in anti-party activities must be punished before being allowed to rejoin.
Although politics is a game of numbers, Mr. Omowaye, another awardee stated that the party must 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 (an) act,” added Mr Omowaye.
The chairman of the planning committee of the occasion, Lukman Abubakre, said the event was organised to honour sons and daughters of Ijesa land for their commitment to the service of their fatherland.
(NAN)