PRESS RELEASE
Ondo PRP Distance itself from IPAC’s Vote of Confidence in Ondo REC
Akure, October 31 2024
The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and its governorship candidate, Comrd. Babatunde Francis Alli (BFA), have formally distanced themselves from the recent vote of confidence in the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) issued by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
The PRP has expressed strong reservations regarding IPAC’s involvement in matters concerning the internal affairs of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, asserting that IPAC has overstepped its mandate.
In a statement issued today, the PRP emphasized that IPAC has no business endorsing or appraising INEC officials, a role that belongs exclusively to INEC itself. The Ondo REC’s appointment and evaluation should remain a matter of internal affairs of INEC, free from any political party’s interference, else the official wont be deemed apolitical.
According to Pastor Oladele Oluwasesan, Chairman of the Ondo PRP, who was not present at IPAC’s endorsement of the REC, the council indeed overstepped its boundaries. Individual member parties should concentrate on their campaigns for the Ondo 2024 Governorship Election. He particularly called on the IPAC State Chairman to desist from using the council for cheap politicking and personal aggrandizement.
The PRP’s focus remains firmly on grassroots outreach and campaign activities, with no time for what is described as “meddling” in INEC-related internal matters. The Governorship candidate, BFA described IPAC’s actions as overreaching and raised concerns about IPAC’s motives while calling for transparency and accountability in the entire process. “IPAC should release detailed reports of the purported investigations which made the accusations raised by the protesters, baseless.
In addition, the PRP condemned calls for the arrest of peaceful protesters, stressing that peaceful protest is a constitutional right of all citizens and should not be curtailed. Alli described such calls as indicative of a lack of political leadership capacity in a time when the state needs inclusivity and the voice of the opposition the most.
The PRP is calling on INEC’s national office to disregard IPAC’s endorsement and carry out any necessary actions based on objective assessments. They also urge the Ondo REC to remain focused on her duties of supervising free and fair election and refuse being swayed by politically motivated endorsements.
Signed:
PRP/BFA Campaign Committee.
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