A former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan, has resigned from his position as Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, as he prepares to contest the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Olaniyan’s resignation follows the directive issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, mandating all political appointees with ambitions for the 2027 elections to step down on or before March 31.
In a resignation letter dated March 23 and addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Olaniyan stated that his decision takes immediate effect and aligns with the requirements of the Electoral Act guiding participation in party primaries.
“I write to formally tender my resignation… with effect from March 23, 2026,” the letter read, noting that the move was necessary to enable his full participation in the forthcoming political process.
Olaniyan expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, describing his tenure as a privilege and pledging continued commitment to public service.
The former deputy governor, who served under Governor Seyi Makinde during his first term before his impeachment by the State House of Assembly, later defected to the APC where he is now seeking to secure the party’s governorship ticket.
He also extended gratitude to the management, staff, and students of the institution for their support during his time in office.