Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, has called for removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, ahead of the November 16th governorship election in the state.
Makinde,who is the South-West Zonal leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said her removal will pave the way for a free and fair election in the state.
Addressing the audience on Tuesday in Akure, Ondo state capital, during the official flag-off ceremony of the 2024 Ondo state PDP governorship election campaign, the governor said the call for Babalola’s removal became necessary to safeguard the electoral integrity and fairness among the contestants.
While noting that the party will not allow the repeat of Edo State governorship election drama in Ondo, Makinde asked the INEC national chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmoud, to deploy another REC that will be fair and allow a level playing field to the state.
Makinde says, “This message is for the INEC national chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmoud. You must remove the REC in Ondo State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola.
“She’s from Ondo State. What they did in Edo will fail in Ondo. We will protest until she’s removed. Bring another REC that will be fair and allow a level playing field. We, as PDP, aren’t afraid of any contest. Remove her, or else we will continue to protest.”
“Ondo REC must be redeployed. She was born here; her parents live here. She can never be fair in this election. We don’t want her in Ondo State. Babalola must leave,”he said.
In a swift reaction on Wednesday, INEC debunked the allegation.
The response reads in part: “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.”
