Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has rebuked Governor Seyi Makinde Of Oyo State who is also the chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for the Ondo State elections over an allegation of the latter refusing the appointment of Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede as the INEC returning officer for the Ondo State Gubernatorial polls this Saturday.
Makinde alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission appointed Governor Rotimi Akeredolu kinsman as the returning officer for the election. Ogunbodede hails from Owo Town the same birthplace of the incumbent governor of Ondo State.
Akeredolu speaking through Mr Richard Olatunde, the spokesman of the governor on behalf of the governor said sad ‘’“While it is forgivable for the PDP in Ondo State to continue to raise false alarm and make spurious allegations over the election, it is inexcusable for a Governor like Seyi Makinde to market ignorance in such a shameful manner. This ridicules, in no small measure, the exalted office of governor.
“As at the time he raised the objection, INEC had not even announced the appointment of a Retuning Officer for this Saturday’s election. We cannot but wonder how and where Governor Makinde in particular, got the information.
“Governor Makinde, as a member of the Nigerian council of State, ought to know that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not, and shall never appoint a Returning Officer who is an indigene to administer elections. No indigene of Ondo State can ever be made a Returning Officer.
“By this pedestrian dance, Governor Makinde has shown himself to be a disgrace to public decency and the office he is holding.
“For us in the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Akeredolu/Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation, we believe in fairness and the credibility. Our trust in INEC on a free, fair and credible election on Saturday remains undoubted.
“Therefore, we urge the people of the state to disregard the ignorance exhibited by the PDP and Governor Seyi Makinde while getting set to participate in the election on Saturday,” The statement revealed.
