The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has implored the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free, fair and credible governorship election in Ondo State.
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who is also the Leader of the party in the South-West Zone, made the appeal on Tuesday in Akure, during the official flag off of the PDP governorship election campaign.
Makinde also called for the removal of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state,Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, saying the party had not confidence in her to deliver a credible election.
The governor said the call for Babalola’s removal was in order to safeguard electoral integrity, and ensure fairness and level playing ground for all parties in the forthcoming Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.
“The last governorship election in Edo State was a fraud and we don’t want that in Ondo State.
“The current REC is from Ondo State, we don’t want her to conduct this election otherwise we will continue to protest. We will not condole injustice,” Makinde said.
Also speaking at the rally, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who doubles as the Chairman, Ondo National Campaign Council, said the PDP governorship candidate in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi was a tested hand.
The PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagun, who spoke on the last Edo State governorship election, claimed that the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, was the legitimate winner of the election.
According to Damagun, the election in Edo did not meet the necessary democratic standards.
“We don’t want what happened in Edo State in Ondo State.
“We want free, fair and credible election in Ondo State.
“Our governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, is a well tested candidate that can deliver dividends of democracy to the good people of Ondo State,” he said.
Ajayi, the governorship candidate of the PDP, said that his seven-point agenda would definitely transform the future of the people in the state if voted for.
“My seven-point agenda includes; “Security, Agriculture, Education, Health, Infrastructure, Industry and Marine Economic Development, Rural Development and Environment.
“Others are Youth, Sports, Social, Women Development and Civil Service,” he said.
Ajayi, who also reiterated the call for the removal of Ondo REC, said they the party did not have confidence in her conduct of a free, fair and credible governorship election in the state. (NAN)