Aregbesola’s omission from presidential campaign surprising – APC faction

The faction of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State backed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has expressed surprise over his omission in the party’s Presidential Campaign Council.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday, the group’s publicity secretary, Abiodun Agboola, said it was surprising that Aregbesola was left out.

He, however, said as a loyal party man, Aregbesola and his men would work for APC’s victory in the 2023 presidential poll.

Agboola said, “Actually, we were surprised that his name was not included in the list when it came out. We don’t know what is responsible for that but we felt that with his closeness to Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu), he was supposed to be given a prominent role in the campaign.

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“As a true party man, he will definitely contribute towards the success of Asiwaju during the next election. But we felt that he deserved to be there. He knows Asiwaju very well; he knows him in and out. Asiwaju also knows his capabilities. At a certain point in time, he was the DG of Asiwaju when he was campaigning for the governorship in Lagos State.

“We felt he deserves more, but if the party hierarchy says that he has to come in as a member of the Executive Committee, there must be a reason behind that which is not known to us. He is a party man who is loyal to the party. Ogbeni Aregbesola will definitely play his role during the next election.”

When contacted for reaction on Monday, Onanuga and Keyamo declined further comment on Aregbesola’s exclusion, saying The PUNCH should refer to their DG statement at the unveiling of the Action Plan and PCC inauguration at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Dr Simon Lalong, the Director General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council and the Governor of Plateau State calmed party supporters when he announced that members who did not make the PCC list have important roles to play at the regional, zonal, and grassroots levels.

Lalong disclosed that the majority of party chieftains, including Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige; embattled Senator of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Chimaroke Nnamani; and former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, who were dropped from the campaign list, were given different roles to play at regional, zonal, state local government, ward and unit levels.