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, 2024 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 Akure metropolis, would be biased during the poll.

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

Makinde, while appealing to the electorate not to trade their votes, stressed that PDP states had proven to be better than APC-controlled states in terms of governance.

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

On his part, Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammad, said: “Ondo is a home of knowledge. Education is 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 will win in Ondo State, and we will also get Ogun and Lagos states.

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.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the party for the Ondo election, Agboola Ajayi, who listed his seven-key agenda for the state to include infrastructure, agriculture, and health development, among others, said: “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.

Meanwhile, INEC has presented the soft copy of the voter’s register to the 18 political parties that will participate in the governorship election in the state.

The National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Ogun, Osun, and Ondo states, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, who presented the register to the parties, said that the move was in line with the timetable scheduled for the election.

Ajayi, who stressed that the electoral body is prepared and ready to conduct a credible and seamless election, said that the process was part of the transparency assured by the electoral body.

On her part, the REC, Oluwatoyin Babalola, noted that the register is the official document that determines who is eligible to participate in the election and serves as the cornerstone of electoral credibility.