Some opposition political parties in Osun State have rejected the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, saying he is not suitable for the conduct of the state’s governorship poll in August.
The Peoples Democratic Party and the Unity Party of Nigeria in Osun State called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Atahiru Jega, to replace the REC.
The PDP Chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, in an interview with our correspondent in Osogbo on Thursday said the party did not trust the REC to conduct a credible poll, adding that he should be replaced with an unbiased commissioner.
A governorship aspirant of the UPN, Mr. Segun Akinwusi, while addressing journalists, also called for Akeju’s removal saying he could not be trusted.
But the Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Mr. Adelowo Adebiyi, said that the party had confidence in the REC to conduct a free and fair election.
The PDP chairman said, “ We are okay with the timetable released by the INEC for governorship election in the state. But we are appealing to Prof. Atahiru Jega to replace Akeju as the REC in Osun State.
“ There is a court judgment that the REC should be replaced, we want Jega to implement this. There can’t be a free and fair election in Osun State with Akeju in charge as the REC.”
Olaoluwa called on the security agencies in the state not to allow hoodlums to take over the state.
He said some youths were currently being trained by some politicians and they should be checked to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
The UPN governorship aspirant also said that Akeju must be removed early in order not to rubbish the efforts of the INEC.
Akinwusi said, “Prof. Jega is a gentleman but there are some of his lieutenants who are not honest. We must not allow what happened in Anambra to repeat itself here.
However, the APC chairman in the state disagreed with the call for Akeju’s removal saying “The REC is capable of conducting a transparent election based on his antecedents. He conducted the 2011 elections and did very well. The opposition did not challenge the result of the elections in tribunal. They would have gone to court if the election was not credible.
The opposition parties know they cannot win and they have to blame their failure on something.”
Copyright PUNCH.
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