The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has labelled Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s remarks about Toyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, as false and misleading.
During the launch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo, Makinde claimed that Mrs Babalola is from the state.He said she should be removed to guarantee the neutrality of the electoral body.
He also stated that PDP members would protest until she is either removed or redeployed.
He said: “This message is for INEC national chairman Yakubu Mahmood that you must redeploy the Ondo REC, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola. She is from Ondo state. We will protest until she is removed. 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.”
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In response to the allegations, INEC in a statement on its Facebook page clarified that Mrs Babalola is not from Ondo State.
The Commission emphasised its policy of not assigning a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to their state of origin.
Additionally, INEC noted that during the lead-up to the last gubernatorial election in 2020, Makinde accused a senior official of the Commission of collaborating with the Vice Chancellor of a federal university to undermine the election.
The Commission stated that this allegation was untrue.
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The statement read: “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.”
