Protesters yesterday gathered at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja, calling for the immediate redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, ahead of the state’s November 16 governorship election.
Led by the Ondo Youths League (OYL), the protesters expressed concern about Babalola’s neutrality, alleging ties with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, they asserted that her familiarity with the state and its political players could compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
Ayo Adeyemi, convener of the OYL, urged INEC to transfer Babalola to another state to ensure a fair election.
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“We respect her achievements, particularly as a woman who has risen to such a significant position. However, to ensure a free and fair election, we believe she should be reassigned. Babalola has deep connections here, and while she’s not done anything wrong, her familiarity with the state could present a conflict of interests,” Adeyemi stated.
In response, INEC National Commissioner, Modibbo Alkali, acknowledged the protesters’ concerns, assuring them that the commission would review their demands.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to impartiality, underscoring its adherence to constitutional rules.
“INEC functions impartially and is guided by the Nigerian Constitution. We’ve received your petition, and the chairman will thoroughly assess it,” Alkali said, adding that INEC’s primary mission is to uphold democracy through credible elections.
The protest follows a similar incident weeks earlier, when members of the Ondo State Youth Vanguard protested at INEC’s office in Akure, claiming Babalola had been meeting privately with APC leaders, demanding her redeployment but INEC had said it has no plan of acceding to the demand.
Adding weight to the protesters’ demands earlier, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, had also called on INEC’s Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, to remove Babalola.
Makinde claimed Babalola’s alleged ties to the APC could undermine a fair election process in Ondo, warning that the PDP would not stand by if the integrity of the election were at risk.
He said the PDP would continue protesting until Babalola’s redeployment, emphasising the need for fairness and transparency in the election.
