The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was not aware the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the Returning Officer for Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo.
The commission said it neither received any letter nor communication from the main opposition party on its rejection of Prof. Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede, the Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
A report by The Nation was quoted that INEC spokesman in Ondo, Babalola Lebile, said he was hearing the said rejection for the first time.
The PDP on Thursday afternoon said the people of Ondo would not be getting free and fair elections with the present composition of INEC.
Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council, Governor Seyi Makinde, who spoke at a briefing in Akure said Prof. Ogunbodede was a known crony of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and also hails from Owo, hometown of Akeredolu.
Makinde, who insisted that Prof. Ogunbodede would not be a fair party in the proceedings by virtue of his association with Akeredolu, called on INEC to immediately replace him.
Makinde said OAU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof.A S Bamire, who conducted the training of Returning Officers was not a neutral party for the purpose of Saturday’s election.
The Governor threatened that anybody that attempted to rig Saturday’s election would be reported to the international community.
He noted that their reason for crying out was because once the Returning Officer made a pronouncement, it would resort to the going to the tribunal.
