Oyo Governor Makinde Hands Over Power to Deputy, Gives Reason

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde will temporarily hand over power to his deputy, Bayo Lawal, after the Oyo State House of Assembly approved his request to proceed on annual leave.

The Assembly granted the approval during plenary on Thursday after considering Governor Makinde’s formal letter, which was submitted in line with constitutional provisions requiring a governor to notify the legislature before proceeding on any official absence.

According to the letter, the governor’s leave will begin on Monday, August 10, and end on September 11, while he is expected to resume office on September 14, 2026.

Deputy Speaker Muhammed Fadeyi, who presided over the sitting in place of Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin, read the governor’s letter to members of the House. Lawmakers approved the request without opposition, expressing confidence that the affairs of the state would continue smoothly under the leadership of the deputy governor.

Following the approval, Lawal will serve as Acting Governor throughout the period of Makinde’s leave, taking charge of the day-to-day administration of the state to ensure that government activities continue without interruption until the governor returns.

Speaking after the approval, Fadeyi wished Governor Makinde a restful annual leave and reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to sustaining a healthy working relationship with the executive arm of government. He also expressed confidence in the deputy governor’s ability to provide effective leadership while acting as governor, noting that Oyo State’s stable governance structure would ensure that policies and government programmes continue without disruption.

Other lawmakers also commended Governor Makinde for complying with constitutional requirements by formally notifying the House before proceeding on leave. They described the move as another demonstration of his respect for democratic principles, constitutional governance and the rule of law.

At the end of the plenary, the House directed that its approval of the governor’s leave request be formally communicated to the executive arm for the necessary action.

Recall that a Federal High Court on Wednesday ruled in favour of the Oyo State Government in a case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court set aside the EFCC’s request seeking extensive financial records from the state government and held that the anti-graft agency could not carry out a blanket investigation without specific allegations.

The case stems from a June 2, 2025 letter in which the EFCC requested copies of all contracts involving the state government as well as details of payments made to contractors from 2021 onward. The Oyo State Government challenged the request, arguing through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Abiodun Aikomo, that the demand was oppressive, unreasonable and too broad because of the large volume of contracts and transactions involved.

Although the EFCC argued that Section 38 of the EFCC Act, 2004 empowered it to demand information from any person, authority, corporation or company for investigative purposes, Justice Maha ruled that such requests must be reasonable and linked to specific allegations rather than amounting to a blanket demand for financial records.

The ruling came months after Governor Makinde declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). Announcing his ambition at a joint rally of his PDP faction and the APM in Ibadan in May, Makinde said, “The time to reset Nigeria is now. Therefore, today, I, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, announce my candidacy for the position of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He also announced a political alliance between his PDP faction in Oyo State and the APM, saying the partnership would enable the opposition to field candidates for all elective positions in the 2027 general election.