The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dragged former Osun state governor and immediate past interior minister, Rauf Aregbesola, to court for floating a parallel party.
The plaintiff asked the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo to declare 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.
Led by Ayodele Kusamotu, the APC counsel contended that the 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 party said Aregbesola has no constitutional power to launch a factional group within the party thereby seeking an order of the court to proscribe and prohibit the factional group within APC in Osun.
In the suit FHC/OS/CS/1/2024, the plaintiff is asking the court to restrain Aregbesola and his supporters from further forming any factional group or parallel association within the party.
Aregbesola and three others, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Hon Rasheed Olalekan Afolabi, and Mr Lani Baderinwa, were joined as respondents.
The originating summons which was obtained by our correspondent on Monday, dated January 4, sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from attending, recognising, 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 to inaugurate 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.
“An order prohibiting the illegal factional and parallel association of the 2nd -4 Defendants launched as Omoluabi Progressives (APC) in similar or same name of the plaintiff impersonating the plaintiff’s registered logo, symbol, and slogan to function as a political group.”
