2023 presidency: Makinde announces Bayo Lawal as running mate

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has announced Bayo Lawal as his running mate ahead of the 2023 elections.

Makinde made this announcement on Tuesday.

It was gathered that the governor made the announcement during a meeting with some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders from the Oke Ogun zone.

Some of the PDP leaders who were at the meeting according to sources are former PDP Chairman in the state, Kunmi Mustapha, his successor, Dayo Ogungbenro and Senator Hosea Agboola.

Journalists reported that the announcement of Lawal who is the Chairman, Oyo State Housing Corporation, has cleared the speculations over who the governor will use as his running mate in 2023.

Lawal, a lawyer is from Kishi in Irepo local government area of Oke Ogun zone.

It had earlier been reported that Makinde has dropped his Deputy, Rauf Olaniyan who is Igboho in Oorelope local government area in Oke Ogun zone.

It could be recalled that Makinde dropped Olaniyan and replaced him with Lawal.

Both Makinde and Olaniyan were elected as governor and Deputy governor on the platform of PDP in 2019.

It was also reported that the announcement of Lawal is coming two days after Olaniyan said he has dumped the PDP and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Olaniyan had earlier claimed that about five political parties are asking him to contest on their platforms.