PDP Rejects Edo Returning Officers For Ondo Elections

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, wishes to vehemently reject the choice of the vice chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Kayode Soremekun and others who served as returning officers for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for Edo State election as the same set of people to be deployed to conduct the Ondo State election.

Confirmed reports reveal that these personnel are to be escorted to Akure tomorrow morning by policemen from Ekiti State. To this arrangement, the people of Ondo State say NO!

This is uncalled for and a further attestation to the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) desperation to rig the governorship election in favour of its candidate. We will not accept this!

It would be recalled that these same people were the ones used by the APC to manipulate the Edo State election which, today, is being described as one of the most fraudulent elections in the history of the nation’s democracy.

It is rather unfortunate that the INEC in Ondo State would heed the instructions given by its defacto chairman, Amina Zakari to use the Edo State template for Ondo State.

Just like the experience in Edo State, the PDP has gathered that results have already been written for Prof. Soremekun and his team to announce after the election.

There are so many University Dons of repute in Nigeria. If at all the INEC is constrained financially, it could still make do with Vice Chancellors of nearby Federal Universities in Osun, Oyo and even Edo States.

Apparently, Prof Soremekun is not the only Vice Chancellor in Nigeria and there is no reason why he should be INEC’s choice again especially considering his controversial role in the rigging of the recently held Edo Election.

We must let the INEC know that much as Ondo State people are peace loving, we would not allow any form of misdemeanour on the part of INEC or its agents. We would resist any attempt to manipulate the election result.

We reject any form of advanced rigging in the Ondo State governorship election and want the electoral umpire to be unbiased for the sake of peace during and after the poll.

We remain resolute in our commitment to building our democracy. However, we call on the electorate to be at alert till the final results of the election is announced.

Banji Okunomo
Ondo PDP Publicity Secretary