LAGOS – Relationship between the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan and members of the State House of Assembly yesterday turned sour, as 24 lawmakers gave him 7-days ultimatum to answer five allegations levelled against him or get impeached.

It was gathered that the 24 members of the House signed the petition which was read during plenary, on Wednesday.

It would be recalled that Engr. Olaniyan had some few days ago resigned from the State ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and still retains his position as the Deputy Governor.

Authoritative source revealed that as a result of decamping to another party, the state chapter of the PDP asked him to resign or get impeached, which he declined.

According to the source, “The matter took a new turn today (Wednesday) as 24 PDP lawmakers’ in the house decided to serve him impeachment notice.

“In the petition, the lawmakers accused the Deputy Governor of gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial recklessness, abandonment of office and official duty and insubordination and other offences”, source revealed.

When the petition was read on the floor of the house by the Clerk of the House, Yetunde Awe, the Speaker, Hon. Debo Ogundoyin said the petition had satisfied the two-third requirement to initiate the process.

He added that the House would give the Deputy Governor a seven-day grace period to respond to the allegations, adding that failure to do so can lead to the commencement of impeachment move.

The window of response takes immediate effect and to lapse on Wednesday June 22.

The petition was signed by 24 out of 26 PDP lawmakers.

The House thereafter adjourned till tomorrow, June 16.

The petition entitled “Petition And Notice of Allegations of the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Engineer Rauf Olaniyan” reads in parts.

“Consequent upon listed below, we the under listed elected Honourable members of the 9th assembly hereby allege the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Eng. Rauf Olaniyan with the following allegations:
“Gross misconduct, Abuse of office, Financial recklessness, Abandonment of office, official duty, insubordination and other offences.

“This is in accordance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2011. Section 188.”