Information floating around the political circle of Osun state indicates that the political group founded by former minister Rauf Aregbesola, Omoluabi Progressives is eyeing other states.

The Omoluabi Progressives with Aregbesola as grand patron is currently at the heart of an intense campaign to produce the next governor of Osun state.

The political group prides itself on housing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) still holding on to the ethos of Omoluabi (exemplary conduct) in Osun state.

The talks are that the political group is looking to fill the gap created for a regional party in the southwest with the formation of the APC

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with Aregbesola as the influential second in command to its leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu filled the gap before it merged with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and breakaway factions of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to form the APC in 2013.

The APC won the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections with Muhammadu Buhari and retained the position with Tinubu in 2023.

Insiders say Omoluabi Progressives is seeking to give proper representation to voices yearning for the return of an improved version of ACN in the southwest.

Aregbesola founded the group last year in the face of intense political rivalry that took control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state out of his hands and handed it to Gboyega Oyetola.

Oyetola who served as Aregbesola’s Chief Of Staff – when he was governor – succeeded him as the number one citizen of Osun state – after an alleged initial opposition.

Things, however, tumbled downhill and became a make-or-mar fight between them over who was really in charge of the government and party after Oyetola was sworn in as governor.

The larger consequence of the face-off saw Aregbesola lose control of the political party he built in Osun state, sidelined at the national level, and Oyetola unable to secure a second term in office.

The centre has been unable to between them and their loyalists since then.