The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reiterated its call for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State ahead of the forthcoming off-cycle November 16 governorship election in the state.

The opposition party, which flagged off its campaign at Oyemekun Road, Akure, the state capital, alleged that the REC, who was born and raised in the Akure metropolis, will be biassed during the poll.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who is the leader of the party in the Southwest, urged the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, not to allow Babalola to superintend over the election.

While appealing to prospective voters not to trade their votes, he stressed that PDP states had proven to be better than All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled states in terms of governance.

He said, “Don’t trade your votes. We can now all see where vote buying has led us. You can see all the good things that are happening in Oyo, Osun, and all other PDP states in Nigeria. This is the beginning of the victory party for the PDP in Ondo State.

“I have a message for the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. He must remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola. She is from Ondo State.

“What the APC did in Edo State cannot be done in Ondo. We will protest until she is removed. Bring another REC that will be fair and that will allow a level playing field. We, as PDP, are afraid of a fair contest. We will not allow what happened in Edo State to repeat itself in Ondo.

“Please go out, embark on ward-to-ward, house-to-house campaigns over the next three weeks, and win souls for the PDP.”

The Governor of Osun State and Chairman of the National Campaign Council, Senator Ademola Adeleke, who described the governorship candidate of the party as the best choice for the people, said, “Agboola is a tested hand. Anyone with God will never be put to shame. I bring you good news from Osun State.”

On his part, the Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, said, “Ondo is a home of knowledge. Education is stated here, and it is still on the rise. We do not condone injustice. All the PDP governors are with you. We are tired of hunger. We are going to get Ekiti; we’ll win in Ondo State, and we will also get Ogun State and Lagos State.

READ ALSO: Ondo election: INEC, IPC train officials on effective communication

“Everyone should go out and deliver for Agboola Ajayi and his deputy. There is no time for sleeping. We will deliver ourselves from the shackles of poverty and hunger.

“There is no crisis in the PDP. Those trying to create crises are trying to make Nigeria a one-party state, but the PDP will not allow that to happen.”

The Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagun, who lamented that the ruling APC had brought hardship upon Nigerians, urged the people of the state to use their votes to evict APC from the state.

“There is no good road, and there is hunger in the land. The opportunity has come for you once again to change the narrative and chase hunger, poverty, and insecurity from the land.

“Agboola Ajayi is a world-tested candidate that can deliver dividends of democracy to everyone in Ondo State. APC has almost killed everybody. They are thieves. What happened in Edo will never repeat itself here.”

Meanwhile, Ajayi, who listed his seven-key agenda for the state to include infrastructure, agriculture, and health development, among others, stated that “We will enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies, particularly Amotekun, Forest Guards, Vigilantes, and Traditional Hunters, through advanced training and the provision of appropriate equipment.

“Massively, we will produce food to immediately end hunger in the state by purchasing and distributing high-yield seeds, seedlings, and inputs to farmers. Increase and improve classrooms and other buildings for primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions within the state. Free and compulsory education at the primary and junior secondary levels for all.

“On health, Agboola said his government will provide a primary health centre in each of the 203 wards in the state to be staffed by trained and dedicated medical personnel and provide essential drugs, hospital consumables, and laboratory services to patients at affordable costs.”