On Thursday, the Omo Eko Pataki group, led by former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Olabode George, endorsed the Labour Party’s candidate in Saturday’s governorship election in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Ikoyi attended by the LP candidate and PDP leaders.
Addressing reporters, George stated that the Omo Eko Pataki group, which includes former Lagos State Deputy Governor Bola Tinubu, Senator Kofoworola Akerele-Buknor, and Mrs Onikepo Oshodi, was formed to ensure a free electoral process in Lagos.
Speaking on Saturday’s governorship election in Lagos, the group “insists on the use of electronic transfer of results rather than the unreliable, archaic, manual system.”
George used the opportunity to reiterate his claim that an appointee and surrogate of a presidential candidate was presently the man in charge of Information Technology at the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said, “Yesterday, the INEC spokesperson said there is no such person in their organisation.
“My question is, is that fellow not a consultant/contractor for the ICT department in the INEC office? Mr. INEC spokesperson, be bold enough to tell the public what Mr. Femi Odubiyi is doing in the INEC office.
“The witch cried yesterday and the child died today. Who does not know that the witch that cried yesterday is responsible for the death of the child.
“How can we trust the outcome of a process when an examiner is associated with one of the contestants/participants? Where is transparency and fairness in this process?”
The PDP chieftain appealed to the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to do the right thing and save Nigeria from being the butt of jokes in the comity of nations.