Seyi Makinde states prior engagements and delayed notification as reasons for refusal
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has turned down his appointment as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) committee for ward congresses in Edo State, citing late notification and pre-scheduled state engagements.
In a letter addressed to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) through the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, Makinde expressed gratitude for the nomination but explained that the notification of his appointment came too late, and he had already committed to other state obligations.
Makinde revealed that he received the PDP’s letter on Friday, February 2, 2024, for a congress scheduled for February 3 and 4, 2024. He emphasized that the tardy notification prevented him from adequately reviewing any actions taken by the Directorate of Organisation before his appointment.
In his words, Governor Makinde stated, “Let me begin by first thanking the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for nominating me to serve as chairman of this very crucial and sensitive committee. However, given that I was notified of my appointment as the chairman of this very important committee on Friday, February 2, 2024, for a congress scheduled for February 3 and 4, 2024, I regret to inform the NWC that I will be declining this appointment as I have prior state engagements for these dates. The late notification also means that I could not properly review any actions taken by the Directorate of Organisation before my appointment.”
The National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, confirmed the receipt of Makinde’s letter declining the appointment and acknowledged it officially.
Bature’s response to the governor read, “This is to officially confirm the receipt of your letter dated Friday, February 2, 2024, and received today, February 3, 2024, declining your appointment as the Chairman of the Edo State three-man ad-hoc ward congresses electoral committee for the purposes of electing three delegates at the ward congresses scheduled to hold on Sunday, February 4, 2024.”
He further explained the procedures for addressing any concerns arising from the congress and directed aggrieved aspirants to forward their petitions to the Electoral Appeal Panel.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State had previously expressed disappointment at Makinde’s absence during the congress, but he clarified that the Oyo Governor’s non-participation did not invalidate the process. Additionally, nine out of eleven PDP aspirants for the 2024 governorship election in Edo State opted out of the congress.
