Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has urged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chair, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, to replace Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, Ondo State Resident Electoral Commisioner (REC), noting she is from the state and could compromise the governorship election.
Makinde spoke at a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Akure, stressing PDP is not afraid of a fair contest, but demands a REC from outside Ondo be assigned to ensure a level-playing field.
Makinde said we demand that Mahmood removes Mrs. Babalola because she can compromise integrity of the poll.
According to him, the party will continue to insist on this until she is removed.
‘‘Bring another REC that will be fair and that will allow a level-playing field. We, as PDP, are not afraid of a fair contest”, he said.
Corroborating Makinde, the party’s Southwest chapter noted importance of a credible election in Ondo. Sanya Atofarati, PDP leader in the region, urged the people to protect their mandate in November.
Atofarati reiterated the party’s confidence in its candidate, Alfred Agboola, while warning against attempts to manipulate the process.
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Atofarati said Southwest PDP supports redeployment of Mrs. Babalola ‘‘because she cannot be trusted to superintend the November election.
“The people are concerned about the election, and INEC has the responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in the electoral processes.
“It is evident the people have resolved to vote for PDP candidate, Agboola Ajayi, and any attempt to impose a known manipulator through INEC will be resisted,” he said.
PDP alleged Mrs. Babalola, a former INEC director of Legal Services, has ties to Ondo State, despite INEC’s claims to the contrary. The party wondered why INEC is insisting on retaining her as REC, considering the conflict of interest.
But INEC, via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, said Mrs. Babalola is not from Ondo State, in line with its policy of not posting RECs to their states of origin. However, the commission did not specify her state of origin.
The Nation
