Aregbesola’s camp faces defections and internal rifts as the Omoluabi Crisis threatens its influence ahead of Osun’s 2026 governorship election
Former Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s political structure in Osun State came under renewed strain on Monday as internal divisions, mass defections and leadership withdrawals continued to weaken the Omoluabi Progressives ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
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The deepening Omoluabi Crisis now casts a shadow over the group’s long-term viability.
The latest disruption followed the resignation of Moshood Adeoti, a founding member and former Secretary to the Osun State Government, who stepped away from all Omoluabi activities, citing family pressure and a need for rest.
His departure compounded earlier exits of members who defected to the All Progressives Congress, reshaping the state’s political landscape.
The Omoluabi Progressives, formed in 2023 after a rupture within the APC, began as a caucus championing what Aregbesola described as the party’s “genuine foundation members.”
The former Minister of Interior insisted at the launch that the group was committed to long-term political endurance, even as disagreements with the APC deepened.
That relationship finally collapsed in 2025 when the group formally left the APC, alleging exclusion and unfair disciplinary actions.
A strategic alliance with the African Democratic Congress initially appeared to offer the bloc a new platform.
Thousands of supporters marched to Oranmiyan House during the formal announcement, with ADC leaders pledging loyalty to Aregbesola and promising a united front for the 2026 race.
However, the coalition has since faltered.
Several ADC local government chairmen accuse the Omoluabi faction of withholding registration materials and sidelining established party executives, triggering a damaging internal split.
The Omoluabi leadership has dismissed the claims as mischievous.
Tensions intensified in mid-2025 when hundreds of Omoluabi and PDP members defected to the APC in Ejigbo.
Senator Mudashiru Husain, who received the defectors, described their move as a triumph of purposeful leadership and a boost to the APC’s preparations for August 2026.
He said the realignment reflected renewed confidence in former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and in national leadership.
More defections followed, with PDP supporters citing dissatisfaction over governance while returning Omoluabi members argued they were choosing certainty over instability.
The cumulative exits have fuelled concerns among analysts that the Omoluabi project is losing ground at a critical moment.
The turmoil evokes memories of the 2022 governorship election when Aregbesola’s associates were widely credited with aiding the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke over Oyetola.
The alliance between Aregbesola and Adeleke later collapsed, and the former minister has since vowed to remove the governor at the next poll.
Observers note that the public contrast between the group’s assurances of unity and the visible signs of fragmentation may further undermine trust.
Some warn that perceptions of volatility, defections and internal discord could weaken the bloc’s bargaining power within the ADC and diminish its grassroots mobilisation.
While Aregbesola’s associates maintain that reorganisation efforts are underway, the narrowing timeline before the 2026 contest complicates any attempt to rebuild.
Options reportedly under consideration include fresh internal restructuring, reconciliation with the APC, or remaining within the ADC despite rising tensions.
Each path carries significant political risks.
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For now, the Omoluabi Progressives face a difficult road as defections, leadership losses and strategic uncertainty raise doubts about their strength heading into a fiercely contested election.
