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 October 10, Governorship election in Ondo State, Page 36 learnt.
The Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council and Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, made this known at a Press briefing in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Thursday.
Governor Makinde stated that Prof. Ogunbodede is from Owo Local Government Area, like Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the election.
He also claimed that the Vice Chancellor is a known crony of Governor Akeredolu, and would not be neutral in the election.
Although, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has not announced Prof. Ogunbodede, Governor Makinde said that the PDP has been informed that the he has been selected.
His words: “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.”
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