Ondo Gov Election: Provide level playing field, Makinde tells INEC

• charges residents to elect Agboola Ajayi as gov

As the governorship election in Ondo State draws near, the governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do the right thing by being fair and ensuring a level playing field in the contest.

The governor challenged the chairman of the commission, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, to remove the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, who is an indigene of Ondo State, noting that this would demonstrate fairness and transparency from the election umpire.

Governor Makinde stated this in Akure, on Tuesday, 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.

The governor, who expressed satisfaction with the massive turnout of Ondo State residents at the rally held at Oyemekun Road, Akure, charged residents of the state to elect the PDP governorship candidate in Saturday, 16 November, 2024 governorship election in order to bring about real hope  in the state.

He, however, declared that the PDP would not watch and allow a repeat of the shenanigans that took place in the Edo State Governorship Election held recently, noting 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.”

The rally had in attendance the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Ilya Umar Damagum, who presented the party’s flag to Agboola, rallying residents of Ondo State to vote for the PDP to end hunger and hardship in the state.

Also in attendance were the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, other members of the PDP NWC, 2023 PDP Governorship Candidate in Ogun State, Hon Ladi Adebutu, party chieftains from different states of the country and PDP leaders across Ondo State.