Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, the
People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has cried out over alleged attempt to
compromise the outcome of the poll.
The Chairman of the PDP Ondo State Gubernatorial National
Campaign Council, Seyi Makinde who is also the Governor of Oyo State raised the
alarm on Thursday in Akure, the state capital.
According to Makinde while addressing journalists over the
development, expressed doubt over the neutrality of the Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC to conduct the poll.
Makinde emphasized that the appointment of Prof Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede, the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as the Chief Returning Officer of the Ondo State Governorship election runs contrary to the rules of the electoral process.
He alleged that Prof. Ogunbodede has an affiliation with
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and that he is from the same town of Owo with
the governor.
“It has come to our notice that the people of Ondo State
will not be getting free and fair elections if the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), as presently composed, will be overseeing the
elections. We are speaking in particular about the appointment of Prof Eyitope
Ogungbenro Ogunbodede, the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife, as the Chief Returning Officer of the Ondo State Governorship
election.
“The PDP totally ”rejects Prof Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede
acting as Chief Returning Officer. He is a known crony of Rotimi Akeredolu SAN,
candidate of the All Progressives Congress and hails from Owo, the same
hometown as the candidate. He cannot be a fair party in the proceedings by
virtue of their association.
“We also want to
state that Professor A. S. Bamire, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Who conducted the training of returning
officers is not a neutral party for the purpose of this election.
“We, therefore, call on INEC to stay true to their name and
replace Prof Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede with a disinterested party. The
Chief Returning Officer should have no affiliation with any of the
participating parties in the elections.
“We also take this opportunity to call on all lovers of
democracy around the world to pay attention to what the APC led administration
in the center is trying to do in Ondo State. We call on the United Nations, the
European Union, the United State and the United Kingdom and indeed all allies
of democracy to call INEC to order.
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