Governor Seyi Makinde Rejects PDP Ward Congress Chairman Position Amidst Controversy
Confusion Erupts as Governor Cites Late Information and Adulteration of Electoral Officer List
In a surprising turn of events, Governor Seyi Makinde has withdrawn from his role as the chairman of the Ward Congress Committee tasked with selecting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate. The decision has thrown the scheduled ward congresses into disarray, raising concerns over transparency.
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| Governor, SEYI MAKINDE |
Governor Makinde, in a letter to the National Working Committee (NWC) obtained by Vanguard, cited late information about his appointment and expressed dismay over the adulteration of the list of electoral officers. Notably, he highlighted the appointment of the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly as the Electoral Officer for his local government.
The withdrawal coincided with a strongly worded letter from nine governorship aspirants, including Philip Shaibu, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, and Anslem Ojezua. They expressed outrage over the alleged tampering of the electoral officials’ list with government officials, emphasizing the need for transparent primaries.
Governor Makinde, rejecting his appointment, revealed that he was only informed on February 2, 2024, about his role in the ward congresses scheduled for February 3 and 4, 2024. He asserted that prior commitments on those days, combined with the late notice, hindered his ability to reschedule his activities.
The aspirants, in their petition, called for a thorough investigation into the alleged adulteration of electoral officer lists, echoing the governor’s sentiments on the importance of transparency within the party’s election processes.
