IF YOU DECEIVE ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU, IF TWICE...

    It is no longer news that the Ondo state governorship election holds tomorrow, the 26th of November, 2016, in the over 300 polling units across the state. Thanks to the epileptic peace that has returned in the champs of various political parties contesting for the position of the number one citizen of the state, as they have put their houses in order, and consequently mend their swords over the flag bearer tussle that practically crippled party primaries in the state. You will recall that a federal high court in Nigeria fired the hitherto flag bearer of the PDP and consequently replaced him with Mr Jegede as the recognized PDP flag bearer in tomorrow's election.

  The news making the rounds however, is the choice of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) returning officer in tomorrow's election in Ondo state. INEC has before now announced the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye Ekiti, Prof Ayodele Serolekun as the returning officer in tomorrow's guber election in Ondo state. The choice of this academic mogul sparked verbal cannons from the opposition parties and political critics alike. This is however not unconnected to the fact that, the said professor played a similitude role in the just concluded Edo state guber election.

    It is vital to point out here that, the governorship election in Edo state that gave birth to governor Obaseki of the APC, was said to have been marred  by gross electoral irregularities that ranges from snatching of ballot papers, to intimidation of supposedly opposition supporters, that practically disenfranchised a mouthful of voters, was spearheaded by the same Vice Chancellor, Prof Ayodele, who has been saddled with the responsibility of manning tomorrow's election in Ondo state. Based on the foregoing therefore, the opposition parties in tomorrow's election, especially the main opposition party in the country, the PDP have condemned in totality, the choice of said professor.

    Ventilating on the latest development, governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state and a chieftain of the opposition party, says that the choice of this Federal University Vice Chancellor poses a threat to the chances of the opposition parties in the state to wrestle power off the APC, and that, it is a calculated attempt by the powers that be, to pigeonhole the opposition parties, especially the PDP, to a corner, so as to have a dubious smooth ride in tomorrow's election. He is of the opinion that, it is a commonplace for the professor to dance to the tune of his paymasters, as according to him, the outcome of Edo state election played credence to the foregoing bias.

    Tomorrow's election in Ondo state serves as a litmus test for INEC, as the Eagle eyes of patriotic Nigerians are fixed on them. The onus now lies on them therefore, to prove their critics wrong, by conducting a free, fair and transparent election in tomorrow's governorship election in Ondo state, as the saying goes "if you deceive me once, shame on you, if twice, shame on me". INEC has deceived me once, the shame is still on "him".