Ahead of the November 16 gubernatorial election in Ondo state, the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), through it’s Southwest leader and Oyo state Governor, Engr.Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, called for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola.
There had been petitions before now by an independent body , against State REC to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)headquarters, about an alleged unholy alliance between the REC and Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa ,the All People’s Congress (APC) candidate in the scheduled election and the state governor.
The independent body had through the petition, revealed, at least two secret meetings the REC who is also an indigene of Ondo state, had with Aiyedatiwa who is believed to be the REC’s close ally.
Governor Makinde called for the removal of the REC in Akure during the Campaign Flag Off ceremony of the PDP which had major PDP stakeholders in attendance.
Calling for the REC’s removal, a visibly excited Makinde, facing the sea of heads at the flag off venue said ” I want to say emphatically and without mincing words , that the Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC) in Ondo State must be removed and a neutral person used to replace her, because she is an indigene of Ondo State and our findings revealed that she is partisan.
” We must create a level playing ground for all the political parties involved in this coming gubernatorial election in Ondo State” Gov Makinde said
“The election must be free and fair and with all these am seeing here today , PDP will surely take Ondo State back from APC that has impoverished the masses” the Oyo State Governor and the leader of the party in the SouthWest said.
” I must also admonish my people in Ondo State that they should shun all forms of voting and collecting money ( Dibo ko sebe) because it won’t take us anywhere infact that’s what put Nigeria in the present problems we are having as a nation now ” the Governor submitted.
Also at the event where the Chairman PDP Governor’s forum, H E Bala Muhammad, Governor of Bauchi State who registered his confidence in the party’s victory on November 16, he assured the Party’s candidate , H E Agboola Ajayi and his running mate Festus Akingbaso a.k.a Fessywest, of the support of the party as a whole and all the governors elected on the platform of the party especially.
” All PDP Governors are with you in Ondo State, we are surely behind Agboola Ajayi in taking over Ondo State for PDP.” the Bauchi State governor maintained.
The carnival like event was a practical demonstration of love and support for the PDP candidate, Ajayi, as the party’s flag was handed over to him by the Party’s National Acting Chairman, Amb. Iliya Umar Damagun.
Also present at the event are the host Governor , Senator Ademola Adeleke of Osun state and the National Chairman of the Ondo State Gubernatorial Campaign Council, Chairman of the PDP BOT, represented by the forner Governor of Ebony State, H E Sam Egwu, all members of the PDP National Working Committee, SouthWest National Secretary , Hon Ramon Owokoniran among others .
Agboola Ajayi and his running mate, Hon Festus Akingbaso will fly the PDP flag as the people of Ondo State go to the polls in a few weeks time .