Ondo Election: Scared PDP Rejects OAU VC as Chief Returning Officer

Matilda Omonaiye/

Once bitten, twice shy.

Those words are ringing true today as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejects the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ife, Professor Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede as the Chief Returning Officer for the Ondo election.

Scared of a repeat of what happened in the 2018 governorship election in Osun, the party in a statement by the chairman of the PDP Ondo State Governorship National Campaign Council, Seyi Makinde, alleged that Professor Ogunbodede is a known crony of the APC governorship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu and hails from the same hometown (Owo).

The PDP claims that Prof. Ogunbodede will not be fair in the discharge of his duty as the Ondo Governorship election Chief Returning Officer.

The Party stated: “It has come to our knowledge that the people of Ondo State will not be getting free and fair elections if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as presently composed will be overseeing the elections.

“We are speaking in particular about the appointment of Professor 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. Ogunbodede as the Chief Returning Officer, he is a known crony of Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the same hometown as the candidate. He cannot be a fair party in the proceedings by virtue of their association.”