About forty-eight hours to the governorship election in Ondo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the choice of the Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, as the Chief Returning Officer for the election.
Chairman, Governor, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who is the National Campaign Council of the PDP, declared this at a press briefing, in Akure, on Thursday.
Governor Makinde said Ogunbodede is from Owo Local Government Area like Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.
Governor Makinde also alleged that Prof. Ogunbodede is a known crony of incumbent Governor Akeredolu and as such would not be neutral.
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Although INEC has not announced Ogunbodede, Governor Makinde said the party has known that the OAU 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.”
