Following his success in the Oyo State governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Seyi Makinde has dropped his deputy, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, as his running mate in 2023.
Instead, Makinde picked the chairman of the State Housing Corporation, Barrister Bayo Lawal, as his running mate for the 2023 governorship election.
It was gathered that Lawal’s choice was preferred ahead of two others who were widely rumoured as possible replacement for Olaniyan.
Kishi-born Lawal, who hails from Irepo local government area of the State, is a former Attorney-General of Oyo State. He was appointed in 1999 during the administration of former Governor Lam Adesina.
He was also appointed the executive chairman, Oyo State Housing Corporation by Governor Seyi Makinde.
It will be recalled that the governor and his deputy, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, had not been in good terms in the recent past.
Olaniyan, who noted that he had been sidelined by his boss, said he had not been involved in the “selection” of PDP candidates for the 2023 elections in the state.
He stated that the rumours surrounding his defection to another party was spreading like wildfire because he had stayed aloof.
Describing the primaries that produced PDP candidates in the state as “shena
