Ondo 2024: Be neutral in your dealings with candidates, political parties – Makinde tells INEC

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be fair and remain neutral in its dealings with candidates and political parties contesting the gubernatorial election in Ondo State.

He made these declarations on Tuesday.

Newspot reports that the election has been fixed to hold on Saturday, November 16 this year.

Makinde called on INEC to do the right thing by being fair and ensuring a level playing field in the contest.

He challenged INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, to remove the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, who is an indigene of the state.

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He noted that this would demonstrate fairness and transparency from the election umpire.

Makinde who spoke in Akure during the flag-off of the PDP governorship campaign and presentation of flag to the party’s governorship candidate and former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Chief Agboola Ajayi, expressed satisfaction with the massive turnout of Ondo State residents at the rally.

Makinde who spoke further declared that PDP would not watch and allow a repeat of the shenanigans that took place in the Edo State governorship election held recently.

He added that his party would protest until the Ondo REC is removed and another REC is taken to the state, saying this would only be fair.

He said: “This rally is the beginning of the victory party for the PDP in Ondo State.

“Please go from ward to ward, house to house for the next three weeks to win souls for the PDP and it shall be well with us.

“But I have a message for the INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmood. You must remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, because she is from Ondo State.

“What you did in the past Edo election cannot be replicated here in Ondo. We will protest until she is removed.

“Bring another REC that would be fair and allow a level playing field. We, as PDP, are not afraid of a fair contest. Remove her, otherwise, we will continue to protest.”