Ondo Guber: INEC denies appointing Akeredolu’s ‘Crony’ as returning officer

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as described as fake and malicious, the report that it had appointed an ally of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu as returning officer for the Ondo state governorship election.

INEC’S National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, gave the clarification in a statement yesterday. In another development, the leadership of the International Press Centre (IPC) has urged security operatives and other stakeholders in today’s governorship election in Ondo state to ensure the safety of journalists and other media professionals that would be on duty.

The Executive Director of the Centre, Lanre Arogundade, made the call yesterday in a statement by the Centre’s Program and Safety Alert Officer, Melody Lawal. He said the call became necessary because of the “emerging conflicts and tension by political actors and other players in the electoral process in the state, the recent signing of a peace accord notwithstanding.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on Thursday, alleged that the electoral umpire appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, as the Chief Returning Officer of Saturday’s governorship election.

The Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council and Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde said Ogunbodede is a known crony of Governor Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and hails from Owo, the same hometown as the candidate.

Makinde said Ogunbodede cannot be a fair party in the proceedings by virtue of his association with the governor and as such, would not guarantee a free and fair election.

But in dismissing the report, Okoye clarified that the returning officer for the election is not from Ondo State and not from the University mentioned by the PDP.

He said: “The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to a press conference addressed by the Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council and Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, October 8, 2020 to the effect that the Commission has appointed the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede, as the Returning Officer for the Ondo Governorship election taking place on October 10, 2020.