Former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has been dragged to court by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state for creating factions within the party.
The plaintiffs including Rasheed Afolabi (a former federal lawmaker) and Lani Baderinwa (a former Information Commissioner), took Aregbesola and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court in Osogbo.
They demanded that the faction of Aregbesola known as the Omoluabi Caucus be declared illegal.
APC through its counsel, Ayodele Kusamotu in suit FHC/OS/CS/1/2024 held that Aregbesola cannot validly lead suspended members of the party and other persons associating with them to launch a political factional and parallel group named Omoluabi Progressives within the party, hence, they sought an order to nullify and proscribe the caucus.
APC contended that the said launching of a factional political group or party within the party with the use of the party’s logo, symbol, and slogan is considered to have contravened the constitution of Nigeria and the party’s constitution.
The court process dated January 4th, 2024 obtained by The Nation on Monday stated that the 2nd Defendant (Aregbesola) cannot validly lead the 3rd-4th defendants who have suspended members of the plaintiff or any other person or persons to for a parallel political association or group within a similar or same name of the plaintiff by suing the plaintiff’s logo, symbol and slogan without registration with the 1st Defendant(INEC) in compliance with the provisions of section 221 and 222 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and provisions of section 75(1)(2)(3) and 79(1)(2)(3)(a)(b)(c) of the Electoral Act 2022.
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It stated: “That 2nd -4th Defendants cannot launch a parallel political or a factional political group or association similar or in the same name of the plaintiff to be holding a political meeting with the logo, symbol and slogan of the plaintiff without registration with the INEC.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from attending or recognizing or accepting any Congress or convention held or to be held by the 2nd -4th Defendants and any other persons associating with them in their factional and parallel political group or association for the purpose of inaugurating or constituting the Executive Council or Committee of the Plaintiff at any level or nominating candidates for any elective positions under the provisions of the Constitution the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) in the name or on the platform of the plaintiff.”
The plaintiff demanded N5 Million against the 2nd -4th Defendants and N2 million service charge from the defendants.
