APC National Secretary Rejects Claims of Alliance with Aregbesola

 The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, on June 5, 2025, categorically denied rumors of a political alliance with former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, dismissing speculations as “fabricated propaganda” to destabilize the party.

Speaking at the APC secretariat in Abuja, Basiru addressed reports linking Aregbesola, a Tinubu ally-turned-critic, to a faction allegedly plotting against President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. The clarification aimed to quell unrest in Osun, where Aregbesola’s Omoluabi Progressives have clashed with Governor Ademola Adeleke’s PDP administration, fueling talk of a strategic realignment.

Basiru, a former Senate spokesperson, emphasized the APC’s unity under Tinubu’s leadership, citing recent defections like Akwa Ibom’s Governor Umo Eno as evidence of the party’s strength. Aregbesola, absent from APC events since his 2021 tenure as Interior Minister, has maintained a low profile, with his faction advocating for grassroots reforms. Sources close to Aregbesola denied alliance talks, noting his focus on Osun’s 2026 governorship race.

The denial follows a viral X post claiming Aregbesola met Atiku Abubakar, which Basiru labeled “fake news.” Tensions in Osun, exacerbated by Adeleke’s demolition of Aregbesola-era projects, have heightened local rivalries, with APC youths rallying behind Tinubu. Basiru urged party members to ignore “mischief-makers,” as the APC prepares for a national summit to consolidate its 2027 strategy, amid Nigeria’s volatile political dynamics.