A faction of loyalists of former Osun State Governor, has returned to the All Progressives Congress ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.
The group, formerly known as The Osun Progressives (TOP), announced its return to the APC under a new platform, Osun Progressives Ambassadors, while also declaring support for the party’s governorship candidate, Munirudeen Oyebamiji.
In a statement signed by the group’s leader, Adeniran Ajala,on Friday, the returning members said they decided to rejoin the APC after what they described as years of political miscalculations.
Ajala explained that members initially aligned with the defunct TOP movement in a bid to strengthen the APC in Osun State but later discovered that the platform had deviated from its original purpose.
According to him, the group realised that the movement had become focused on personal interests rather than the collective progress of the party and the state.
“We aligned with TOP with the hope of correcting grey areas and strengthening the party, but later discovered that the platform had become a vehicle for personal vendetta aimed at undermining the chances of the progressive family in the state,” the statement read.
The group also pledged support for the APC and Oyebamiji in the forthcoming governorship poll and future elections in the state.
Ajala further disclosed that their return to the APC fold was facilitated by Femi Oyetola, a senatorial aspirant and son of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
He commended Femi Oyetola and his team for accepting the returning members and helping with their reintegration into the party structure.
Represented by his campaign Director-General, Kehinde Ayantunji, Femi Oyetola reportedly described the August 15 governorship election as crucial to the future of the APC in Osun State and urged the returning members to work for the party’s victory.
The statement also appealed to party members, especially youths across the state, to accommodate the returnees at ward, local government and state levels.
Among party leaders said to have received the group were former Special Adviser to ex-Governor Oyetola, Rasak Adeosun; former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bayo Adeleke; and Osun APC Youth Leader, Goke Akinwomimo.
