Oyo Assembly Members Move To Impeach Deputy Governor Over Defection

The Oyo State House of Assembly has begun an impeachment process against the Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan.

Olaniyan recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

After his defection, the ruling party in the state had asked him to resign or be ready to be removed.

The petition was signed by PDP lawmakers in the state. Twenty-four out of the 32 members of the House signed the petition against Olaniyan which was read during plenary on Wednesday.

In the petition, the deputy governor was accused of gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial recklessness, abandonment of office and official duties, insubordination and other offences.

The lawmakers that signed the petition are: Fadeyi Muhammed (Ona Ara), Onaolapo Sanjo (Ogbomosho South), Babalola Olasunkanmi (Egbeda), Adebisi Yussuf (Ibadan Southwest 1), Okedoyin Julius (Saki West) and Adebayo Babajide (Ibadan North 2).

Others are: Kehinde Olatunde ( Akinyele 2); Gbadamosi Saminu (Saki East/Atisbo), Mabaje Adekunle (Iddo), Oluwafowokanmi Oluwafemi (Ibadan Southwest 2), Akeem Adedibu (Iwajowa), Fatokun Ayo (Akinyele 1), Rasak Ademola (Ibadan South East 1), Obadara Akeem (Ibadan North West), Oyekunle Fola (Ibadan North 1), Adetunji Francis (Oluyole).

Others are: Olajide Akintunde (Lagelu), Mustapha Akeem (Kajola), Popoola Ademola (Ibadan South East 2), Owolabi Olusola (Ibadan North East 2), Olagoke Olamide (Ibadan North East 1), Olayanji Kazeem (Irepo/Olorunsogo), Ojedokun Peter (Ibarapa North/Centre).

The petition was read by the Clerk of the House, Yetunde Awe.

The Speaker of the House, Adebo Ogundoyin, said the petition met the two-thirds requirements to initiate the impeachment process.

He said the lawmakers would give the deputy governor a seven-day grace period to respond to the allegations raised against him. The seven days would expire on June 22.

Ogundoyin stated that failure to do so could lead to the commencement of his removal process.