GOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has described the resignation of his counterpart from Oyo, Seyi Makinde, as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party – PDP, committee for ward congresses in the state as unfortunate.
The six-man-committee was to conduct congresses in the 192 wards across the Edo State to elect delegates that would nominate the party’s candidate for the September 21 governorship election.
Governor Makinde hinged his resignation on the alleged irregularities on the list of appointed electoral officers, adding that the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly was also leading the team of Electoral Officers in his own Local Government Area, Owan West.
“It is unfortunate that Makinde withdrew, there are three governors and he is only one of three, so withdrawing does not really remove the credibility of the process and it is not just the process and what makes a process credible is the quality of the participation,’’ Obaseki, told journalists after the election of three delegates at the PDP Ward Congress election in Ward 4 of Oredo Local Government Area.
“You can see for yourself. So it is unfortunate that Governor Makinde had to take such a decision but I hope that all our efforts to unify the party and pacify all players will continue.
“We are not deterred at all, we are going to make sure that PDP plays its role in the politics of this country.
“You can also see from the crowd that the exercise is huge as regards the turn out. We have over 600 people coming out to participate here, our people are now very politically conscious.
“We are happy with this turnout to elect delegates for our gubernatorial primary, and we are also expecting this huge turnout in the main election,” he said.
The Edo State Governor however, commended the party faithful for coming out enmasse to exercise their franchise in electing delegates for the governorship primary.