You Can’t Dictate Who Is Appointed Ondo Returning Officer, INEC tells PDP
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warned on Friday that no institution, individual, group or political party, including the Peoples Democratic Party, should dictate who it appoints as the Returning Officer for the Ondo State Governorship election scheduled for Saturday, October 10.
The Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council and Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, had on Thursday in Akure, Ondo State, raised concerns over the appointment of the Returning Officer for the election.
Makinde also expressed doubts over INEC’s impartiality and neutrality in the conduct of the election.
But the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, INEC, Festus Okoye, in a statement made available to Insidebusiness.ng on Friday, said it is the sole responsibility of the commission to appoint whoever it deems fit as a Returning Officer for the election.
The statement was in response to Makinde’s outcry that INEC has appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede, as the Returning Officer for the Ondo Governorship election.
Okoye stated that the commission does not share that responsibility of its appointment of a returning officer with any individual, group or political party.
He said INEC is firmly focused on the conduct of free, fair and peaceful election and implored all the stakeholders to cooperate and play their own part in ensuring a peaceful election.
Okoye said, “While the Commission will not be drawn into speculations relating to the performance of its constitutional and statutory functions, it is imperative to set the records straight for the benefit of the people of Ondo State and the integrity of the electoral process.
“It is the sole responsibility of the Commission to appoint a Returning Officer for the Ondo Governorship election and does not share this responsibility with any individual, group or political party.”
He added, “For the avoidance of doubt, the Returning Officer for the Ondo Governorship election is not from Ondo State and not from the University mentioned in the said press conference.
“The Returning Officer appointed by the Commission will report to the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ondo State on the date conveyed in his letter of appointment issued several days ago.
“The Commission is firmly focused on the conduct of free, fair and peaceful election and implores all the stakeholders to cooperate and play their own part in ensuring a peaceful election and not to engage in unhelpful speculation.
“The main concern of the Commission is in ensuring a credible electoral process while the outcome is in the hands of the people of Ondo State.”
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