Ondo guber: PDP rejects INEC Returning Officer, gives reasons

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

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

Makinde’s major reason is that the INEC’s Returning Officer hails from Owo Local Government Area, the same LGA as Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

He also said that the Vice Chancellor would not be neutral because he is a known crony of the incumbent Governor.

Although the electoral umpire has not made its choice of Ogunbodede public, Makinde said the party has been informed that the VC had been chosen.

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 and hails from Owo, the same hometown as the candidate. He cannot be a fair party in the proceedings by virtue of their association.”

The PDP also rejected the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the school Professor A. S. Bamire, saying he is not a neutral party for the purpose of the election.

Makinde called on the electoral body replace Prof Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede with a disinterested party.