The Peoples Democratic Party is one of the major political parties in Nigeria.
The Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ife, Professor Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede as the Chief Returning Officer for the Ondo election.
The chairman of the PDP Ondo State Governorship National Campaign Council, Seyi Makinde, said in a statement on Thursday that the party does not believe that the CRO will deliver free and fair election.
The party alleged that Professor Ogunbodede is a known crony to the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate Rotimi Akeredolu and hails from the same hometown (Owo), which raises the possibility of compromise.
Prof. Ogunbodede will not be fair in the discharge of his duty as the Ondo Governorship election Chief Returning Officer, the PDP said
The statement reads in part, “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”.
The Governorship election comes up on Saturday, October 10, 2020.
PDP’s Eyitayo is one those jostling to unseat the incumbent Akeredolu who is seeking re-election on the ticket of All Progressives Congress.
