₦airaland Forum

The Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the choice of the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede, as the Chief Returning Officer for Saturday governorship election in Ondo State.

The Chairman, National Campaign Council of the PDP, who is also the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said this at a press briefing in Akure on Thursday.

Makinde said Ogunbodede is from Owo Local Government Area like Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

He also claimed the VC is a known crony of Akeredolu and would not be neutral.

Although INEC has not announced Ogunbodede, Makinde said the party has been informed that the VC had been selected.

He said, “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 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 affiliations with any of the participating parties in the elections.”

deboysben:
Inec should remember US and UK warning and hear the voice of the masses.

It is bad for our democracy if actually the returning officer is from same town with akeredolu.
Though l am rooting for aketi to win.

Ayed44:
In the spirit of fair play, the Returning officer should not even come from Ondo state. The last time I checked we had many competent professors in Nigeria. So why picking a kinsman of one of the candidates as the Returning officer?

This should not be too hard for INEC to understand...

koyinsola82907:
INEC should change the woman if truly he is from Aketi's Village

tamdun:
Una never see anything, so because they allowed u to have ur way in Edo, u expect them to replicate same in ondo abi?
Did u guy even see how many apc gov that visited ondo, apc won't lose 2 state in a roll, make una just forget ondo

koyinsola82907:
INEC should change the woman if truly he is from Aketi's Village

yarimo:
PDP knows from day one they can't win that election, they are looking for excuse to claim apc rig the election.

Yebosola:
Oil deh your head, I counted 10 APC govs that on that final rally, Aketi is Abuja boy, nothing deh happen.

SLIMER20:
AKETI ALL THE WAY