Bayo Lawal, former Commissioner for Justice and executive Chairman of Housing Corporation, Oyo state has been announced as Governor Seyi Makinde’s running mate for the 2023 gubernatorial election.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Dayo Ogungbenro, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, shortly after the governor addressed party leaders, local government party chairmen, and local government chairmen from Oke Ogun Area’s ten local governments.
Lawal was chosen after consultations with party leaders from Irepo/Olorunsogo/Oorelope Federal Constituency, where his incumbent deputy hails from, to ensure balance in the power configuration.
“You heard it that the deputy governor of the state has left for another party and the exigency of the period made it important for the governor to consult with our leaders from Oke-Ogun, which he did. He continued.
“The outcome of that consultations is that Barrister Bayo Lawal from Irepo Local Government will run with Governor Makinde as his Deputy Governor in the 2023 general elections. That is the interpretation.”
Commenting on the update, the deputy governorship candidate of the PDP, Barrister Bayo Lawal, appreciated governor Makinde and all the leaders from Oke Ogun for choosing him as the governor’s running mate.
He said, “this is a great privilege that I won’t take lightly or simply but with all seriousness. “Our leaders have spoken about the journey so far. A lot of consultations have gone into choosing me as the running mate of the governor come 2023.
“His Excellency’s considerations are many but he singled out a few of them – replacing his running mate from the same federal constituency where the current Deputy Governor came from.
“So, it is a great all of us in the Oke-Ogun region, which the Deputy Governor has been zoned to.
“I, therefore, wish to extend my appreciation to all my leaders from Oke- Ogun. To the glory of God, none of us leased my nomination as running mate, which clearly shows the acceptance is overwhelming.
“However, this throws a lot of challenges to me as a person. First, I have pleaded with all my leaders to give maximum cooperation to this administration. “We want to continue on that pace that tempo and even add more.
“That is what I am supposed to do as the Deputy Governor and I pledge my loyalty to the governor, the party and the people of Oyo state.”
Elders and party leaders from the zone praised the governor through Pa Michael Adegbite, a prominent Oyo State PDP chairman, reiterating the party’s and the zone’s readiness to support Governor Makinde in the upcoming elections.
Governor Makinde was present, as was the chairman of the Oyo State Advisory Council, Senator Hosea Agboola; former PDP State Chairmen, Chief Michael Adegbite and Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, as well as the party’s current state chairman, Hon. Ogungbenro.
Others included Oke Ogun’s ten local government chairmen and ten local government PDP chairmen.
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