Ondo election: Youths storm INEC, demand redeployment of REC

Youths in Ondo State, under the aegis of the Ondo State Youth Vanguard, have called for the removal of the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, ahead of the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in the state.

The youths in their number, who stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Akure, the state capital, stressed that they no longer have trust in the REC in executing a seamless election due to her alleged connivance with some politicians and political parties ahead of the poll, particularly Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the All Progressives Congress.

Armed with placards of various inscriptions, the protesters, led by the spokesperson of the group and the Akure South Coordinator of Vanguard for Democracy, Olawale Ijanusi, demand that an unbiased REC be appointed in order for a hitch-free poll to be conducted.

According to the youths who equally submitted a petition addressed to the National Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, findings indicated that Babalola had affiliations with politicians, particularly the APC fold, adding that she had been a resident of Akure for years.

“This raises serious concerns among the citizens, voters, and stakeholders in Ondo State about the impartiality and neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Ondo State,” Babalola said.

“We were further informed by our clients that the incumbent Governor of Ondo State has recently allocated certain plots of land in different choice locations in Akure, the state capital, to Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola and promised to build a house for her if she uses her influence and power as the Ondo State Electoral Commissioner to manipulate and rig the forthcoming election in his favour.

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“Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commission, has been living in Akure, the state capital, at No. 3, Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka area, Akure, with her parents for a period of more than ten (10) years before her appointment as the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, and she and her parents are known to be card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The above facts, which are in the public domain, are an attestation to the fact that Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola will never and never be a fair, unbiased, and uncompromised umpire in the forthcoming Ondo State Governorship Election as the Resident Electoral Commissioner.

“We were also informed by our clients that the party in government in Ondo State, which is the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been boasting to the hearing of the general populace in Ondo State that the said Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola was made the Resident Electoral Commissioner and posted to Ondo State in order to manipulate, actualise, and ensure the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at all costs in the forthcoming Governorship Election of November 16th, 2024 in Ondo State.

“We have the firm instructions of our clients to bring to your notice the activities of the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner and to implore you as a matter of urgency to immediately transfer Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola as the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner before the forthcoming Ondo State Gubernatorial Elections set to hold on the 16th day of November, 2024.

“This demand became necessary and imperative in order to safeguard the electoral integrity, fairness, and level playing ground in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State. The compromised position of Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola is further undermined by her activities and alliance with members of political parties within the state. This clearly is a conflict of interest that threatens to undermine the foundation of our democracy and imperil the trust of the people of Ondo State in the electoral process.

“This is not merely a request but also an imperative duty to safeguard the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission as the Commission responsible for protecting democracy and electoral processes carried out in the nation at large.”

Meanwhile, the Administrative Secretary of the Commission, Biodun Amosun, who received the protesters, assured them that their votes would count.

Amosun, who disclosed that the allegations against the REC would be handled at the national headquarters of the electoral body, said, “We have heard your demands. The thing is being handled at the headquarters.

“It is not easy for INEC to do anything if you vote. Ensure you have a situation room where you collate results from the polling units.”