Osun 2022: PDP rejects Appointment of UI VC as Returning Officer, fingers Asiri-Eniba in Attack on Members

The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, as the Returning Officer of the July 16 governorship election in the state.

At a press conference which held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Monday by the party’s joint legal, media and security committee of the Osun State Governorship Campaign, PDP said it rejected the appointment of Prof Adebowale as State Returning Officer for the July 16th election on account of partisanship and affiliation with the All Progressive Congress, through the party’s former national chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun.

“As much as we have confidence that adherence to the spirit and letters of the Electoral Act will guarantee free and fair election, we reject the appointment of Prof Adebowale as State Returning Officer for the July 16th election on account of partisanship and affiliation with the All Progressive Congress as a party, through the party’s former national chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun (the chairman of the governing council and pro chancellor of University of Ibadan), the Governor -elect of Ekiti state, Mr Biodun Oyebanji and his membership of alumni association of Ayedaade Grammar School, Ikire of which Osun state deputy governor is a member.

“It is particularly troubling that the Vice Chancellor was part of Ekiti APC campaign on more than five occasions. He was specifically very close the family of the Ekiti governor-elect before and during the campaigns.

“It would therefore be unfair to the mantra of free and fair election for such a figure with close affinity to the APC to be appointed State Returning Officer for the July 16 elections. Prof Adebowale is not just an appointee of Oyegun led Council, he is clearly a member of the inner circle of APC going by his recent activities.

“We therefore call on the National Chairman of INEC, Prof Mamhood Yakubu to urgently withdraw the appointment of Prof Adebowale and appoint a new neutral Returning Officer for Osun poll. We warn that we will not allow an APC sympathiser to superintend over Osun election as was the case in 2018.”

Meanwhile, the party has also called for the immediate arrest of a member of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state, Asiri Eniba, for allegedly attacking PDP members in the state, including the alleged high handedness by the Amotekun.

“A notorious thug, masquerading as chieftain of National Union of Road Transport Workers in the State, ASIRI ENIBA and his squad are the major tools of the violent attacks, but the dimension introduced to it by the Osun State Command of South West Security Outfit called the AMOTEKUN is worrisome, insulting, offensive and criminal to the extent that killing, maiming and harassment of citizens is now business as usual.

It said “the dimension introduced to the alleged attacks by the Osun State Command of South West Security Outfit, Amotekun, was worrisome, insulting, offensive and criminal to the extent that killing, maiming and harassment of citizens is now business as usual”.

 “It is regrettable that the AMOTEKUN Security Outfit established for the purpose of strengthening regional security of boundaries to curb the activities of bandits, kidnappers, terrorists, etc has now become a tool of oppression and attack in the hands of some desperate politicians of the ruling Party in Osun State

PDP further called for the Investigation of the activities of the Osun AMOTEKUN and Immediate withdrawal of the Police SPU Security details attached to ASIRI ENIBA.