‘Stop Making Serial, Unfounded Allegations,’ INEC Tackles Governor Makinde Over Call For Ondo Electoral Commissioner’s Removal
INEC in a short statement on Tuesday, said Babalola is not from Ondo State, in line with the Commission’s policy not to deploy a REC to their state of origin.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has responded to the call made by Governor Seyi Makinde to remove the current Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Governor Makinde asked the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to remove Babalola ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Makinde, while kicking off the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign in Akure on Tuesday ahead of the state governorship election scheduled for November 16, noted said the commissioner is from Ondo State.
He explained that the change is necessary to enable transparency in the forthcoming election.
He vowed that what happened in Edo State will not be allowed to happen in Ondo, referring to allegations by the party that INEC connived with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the election.
Also, some youths had demanded the immediate removal of Babalola as the INEC REC in the state ahead of the governorship election.
The youths, who stormed the INEC office in Akure, on October 2, accused Babalola of ‘fraternising’ with some politicians ahead of the governorship election in the state.
But in response to the calls, INEC in a short statement on Tuesday, said Babalola is not from Ondo State, in line with the Commission’s policy not to deploy a REC to their state of origin.
The electoral body said, “Our attention has been drawn to an allegation made by the Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde at his party’s campaign rally held today in Akure in which he called on the INEC Chairman to remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, because ‘she is from Ondo State.’
“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.
“In 2020, ahead of the last Governorship election in the same State, he accused a senior official of the Commission of working with the Vice Chancellor of a federal university to undermine the election. The allegation was untrue.
“We appeal to holders of high public office such as Governor Makinde to verify their information before making these serial, unfounded allegations.”
Our attention has been drawn to an allegation made by the Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde at his party’s campaign rally held today in Akure in which he called on the INEC Chairman to remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Mrs. Toyin Babalola,…
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) October 15, 2024
