The Omo Eko Pataki group, led by former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party Olabode George, endorsed Labour Party candidate Gbadebo Rhodes‑Vivour for the Lagos State governorship election on Thursday. The endorsement was announced at a press conference in Ikoyi attended by the LP candidate and PDP stalwarts.
Addressing the media, George explained that the Omo Eko Pataki group—comprising former Lagos State deputy governor under Bola Tinubu, Senator Kofoworola Akerele‑Buknor, and Mrs Onikepo Oshodi—was formed to ensure a free electoral process in Lagos. The group stressed the need to use electronic transmission of results rather than the “unreliable, archaic, manual system” for Saturday’s election.
George also reiterated his claim that an appointee and surrogate of a presidential candidate currently heads the Information Technology department at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He noted that an INEC spokesperson had denied the existence of such a person, questioning whether the individual might instead be a consultant or contractor for INEC’s ICT department. “Mr INEC spokesperson, be bold enough to tell the public what Mr Femi Odubiyi is doing in the INEC office,” he urged.
Using a metaphor, George warned, “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?” He argued that the integrity of the election is compromised when an examiner is linked to one of the contestants, asking, “Where is transparency and fairness in this process?”
Finally, the PDP chieftain appealed to INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu to act correctly and protect Nigeria’s reputation, urging him to prevent the country from becoming a “butt of jokes in the community of nations.”
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