Manny Ita
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially rejected assertions made by former Osun State Governor and ex-Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, regarding the impact of political defections on the 2027 general elections. In a robust rebuttal issued on the morning of January 29, 2026, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, characterized Aregbesola’s recent public commentary as an attempt to diminish the momentum of the ruling party. The APC maintained that the recent wave of high-profile defections—most notably that of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf—is a testament to the party’s growing national appeal rather than a mere tactical exercise.
The dispute centers on Aregbesola’s claim that “governors defecting to the ruling party will not determine the outcome of the 2027 elections,” suggesting that voter sentiment at the grassroots remains independent of executive realignment. Responding to this, Morka stated that while the party welcomes all into its fold, its primary focus remains on the tangible delivery of the “Renewed Hope” agenda. “The 2027 elections will be decided by performance, not polemics,” Morka asserted, adding that the party is confident that the administrative reforms and infrastructure milestones achieved by President Bola Tinubu’s administration will serve as its strongest campaign tool.
This verbal exchange highlights the deepening rift between the party’s national leadership and Aregbesola, who was formally expelled from the APC in early 2025 following allegations of anti-party activities and the creation of a factional “Omoluabi Caucus” in Osun State. Despite his expulsion, Aregbesola has remained a vocal critic of the party’s direction. In its latest statement, the APC dismissed his warnings as the “ruminations of a sidelined figure,” reinforcing that the party’s strategy for 2027 is built on a foundation of socio-economic results that will “speak louder than the theories of disgruntled observers.”
