Oyo Deputy Gov Exits PDP, Joins APC

The deputy governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan, has left the Peoples Democratic Party after months of rumoured rift between him and his principla, Seyi Makinde.

Olaniyan announced his exit from the party on Sunday, adding that he has joined the camp of the All Progressives Congress.

According to him, his decision was informed by the continuous yearning of his supporters who said they had overstayed their welcome in the PDP.

He assured that his relationship with Makinde remains intact even as they are no longer in the same party.

Olaniyan, who stated that he remains on the same page with the governor regarding governance, stressed that he won’t resign from his position as deputy governor.

Governor Makinde had early dropped Olaniyan as his running mate for the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.

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Makinde, picked the chairman of the State Housing Corporation, Barr. Bayo Lawal, as his running mate for the 2023 polls following the rift with his deputy.

Olaniyan had after the PDP governorship primaries alleged he had been sidelined by his boss, saying he had not been involved in the “selection” of PDP candidates for the 2023 elections in the state.

Governor Makinde recently secured the PDP governorship ticket for a second term in office.

He clinched the governorship ticket after polling 1,040 votes at the gubernatorial primaries held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, while his challenger, Azeem Gbolarumi, got 02 votes.