The South-West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has backed Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Ondo State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, ahead of the state’s November governorship election. This support came in response to concerns raised about Babalola’s alleged ties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which the PDP claims could compromise the integrity of the election.
Makinde’s Protest Against Ondo REC
Governor Makinde had previously expressed his dissatisfaction with the appointment of Mrs. Babalola as the REC for Ondo, stating that her connection to the state and alleged links to the APC made her unfit to oversee a fair electoral process. Speaking during a public address, he urged INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, to replace her with someone neutral.
Makinde said, “You must remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola; she is from Ondo State. We will protest until she is removed. Bring another REC that will be fair and allow a level playing field. Remove her; otherwise, we will continue to protest.”
PDP Southwest Chapter’s Support
The South-West PDP, in a statement signed by Sanya Atofarati, also expressed concern about the REC’s position. They reiterated that the integrity of the upcoming election could be at risk if Mrs. Babalola remains in charge. The party insisted that her alleged ties to the APC and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa raised doubts about her ability to conduct a free and fair election.
Atofarati said, “The Southwest PDP remains resolute in their support for the redeployment of Mrs. Toyin Babalola, who is currently the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, because she cannot be trusted to superintend the November governorship election due to her conspicuous ties with the ruling APC in the state.”
He added that the people of Ondo State, determined to vote for the PDP candidate Agboola Ajayi, would resist any attempt to manipulate the election.
INEC’s Response
In response to these concerns, INEC refuted claims that Mrs. Babalola is from Ondo State, stating on its official X (formerly Twitter) account that she does not hail from the state in accordance with the commission’s policy not to deploy a REC to his or her state of origin.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Mrs. Babalola is not from Ondo State, in line with the Commission’s policy not to deploy a REC to his or her state of origin,” INEC stated, without revealing her actual state of origin.
PDP’s Call for Action
Despite INEC’s clarification, the South-West PDP remained firm in its stance. They questioned the necessity of keeping Mrs. Babalola in her current position and emphasized the need for transparency in the upcoming election, stating that Nigeria has over 200 million capable individuals who could replace her.
“The people of Ondo State will not tolerate any act of manipulation by a known ally of APC leaders. It is essential that INEC prioritizes the credibility of the election over political ties,” the party stressed.
As the November governorship election approaches, all eyes will be on INEC to ensure a transparent and fair process in Ondo State.
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