The deputy governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Olaniyan announced he has joined the APC while speaking to newsmen on Sunday.

The deputy governor said he decided to join the APC following yearnings of his supporters who he said were tired of waiting after remaining afloat in the PDP.

He, however, said his defection did not affect his relationship with the state governor, Seyi Makinde.

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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.

The Star had earlier reported that Governor Makinde reportedly dropped Olaniyan as his running mate for the 2023 gubernatorial election in Oyo State.

Makinde, it was gathered, has 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.

The Star