Will Omisore’s position as National Secretary affect Aregbesola’s influence in APC?

The National Convention of the APC may have gone but the political permutations and intrigues that preceded the event can’t be forgotten in a hurry! Of course, the new National Working Committee of the party has been officially inaugurated and; is now set to shape things ahead of the primary and general elections in 2023.

The insistence of President Buhari on consensus arrangements had greatly helped in the emergence of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, even though the decision had earlier faced strong opposition from most APC governors.

The viral effect of the selection process had equally led to the emergence of the former deputy governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore. This unprecedented feat was coming barely a year after he had officially dumped the Social Democratic Party, SDP to join the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Taking a look at the Osun State Chapter of the APC since 2018, it has been riddled with the crisis between two camps within the party, one faction belongs to the former governor, Rauf Aregbesola and the other believes to be loyal to the incumbent, Governor Oyetola.

However, the influence of Omisore in the party was reported to be part of the things that didn’t go well with Aregbesola who had continually blamed his successor for allowing such.

Omisore who had been playing opposition politics after parting ways with Alliance for Democracy, AD since 2003, became APC chieftain after assisting Oyetola to become Osun State Governor in 2018.

Recall that INEC had declared the election inconclusive because the 353 votes margin between Ademola Adeleke and Oyetola was lower than the number of canceled votes (3,498) in seven polling units, which fell in Omisore’s strongholds.

After hours of round table discussion, which involved a presidential delegate led by Governor Kayode Fayemi, Omisore who was also an SDP governorship candidate in the polls then worked and delivered the affected units for the victory of Oyetola.

This singular assistance which came at a desperate time to save the party from losing its grips to PDP had earned him great respect in the party. He later became a cabinet member without even occupying any position.

Interestingly, his running mate during the 2018 governorship polls under SDP, Lawal Olayemi was henceforth appointed as Commissioner for Youths, Sports, and Special Needs by Governor Oyetola.

At this point, Rauf Aregbesola could no longer tolerate what he tagged as neglect of his supporters by Oyetola by allowing what he tagged in a viral video as “killer and miscreants” into the party fold. He once accused the governor of betraying him by neglecting and de-marketing all his legacies in the state.

This was what played out in the congress held in the last year where a faction loyal to the Interior Minister, TOP, held a parallel event and elected its factional state excos. In the end, despite court cases, the faction loyal to Oyetola was recognized by the national leadership.

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Furious about the situation, Aregbesola openly criticized Oyetola earlier this year and also campaigned for Moshood Adeoti, his former SSG who sometimes left APC to ADP, as his preferred candidate for the forthcoming election in Osun.

While soliciting support for Adeoti a few days to the primary election, the Interior Minister had launched a scathing attack on his erstwhile Political ally, Tinubu, saying the former Lagos State Governor was playing God.

His derogatory remarks had stirred mixed reactions and attracted condemnation in some quarters. Surprisingly, Tinubu who only focused on his presidential ambition did not respond.

However, his anointed candidate, Adeoti was defeated even at his polling unit at Ilesha. A day after the primary, there was a protest to end his reign at the Alimosho APC party in Lagos State.

While all of these were going on, Omisore was getting promoted within the APC and was one of those who joined Asiwaju in his recent meeting with APC lawmakers.

Days later, he became the national party leader against the will of Aregbesola. The question being asked is, will this development affect the Minister’s influence or dump the progressives. This, of course, will be answered in the coming days after the National Convention.

For me, Aregbesola’s influence would have waned immensely because the party structure has been taken over by the incumbent governor who was highly instrumental to the emergence of Omisore as National Secretary