Ondo Elections: INEC Reacts As Oyo Governor, Seyi Makinde Calls For Immediate REC Redistribution

• Ahead of the 2024 Ondo State governorship election, INEC has rejected the claim that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Ondo, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, is an indigene of the state.
• INEC said it strictly adheres to its policy of not deploying a REC in its home state
• Legit.ng reports that INEC was reacting to an allegation by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who insinuated that the electoral arbiter is biased.

Legit.ng Journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering politics and elections in Nigeria.

Akure, Ondo State – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, October 15 denied an allegation that Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Toyin Babalola was from the state.

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Legit.ng recalls that Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo state, had called for the immediate redeployment of Babalola, ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo state.

Ondo Elections 2024: INEC Warns Makinde

According to the Oyo state governor, this is to ensure the neutrality of the electoral umpire in the upcoming poll in Ondo state.

Makinde, the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West geopolitical zone, made the appeal during the launch of his party’s campaign for the upcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

In reaction, INEC said in a statement:

“It has come to our attention an allegation made by the Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, at his party’s campaign rally held in Akure today, in which he called on the President of the INEC to dismiss the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, because “she is from Ondo State”.

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“For the avoidance of doubt, Mrs. Babalola is not from Ondo State in line with the commission’s policy of not deploying a REC in her home state.

“In 2020, before the last governorship election in the same state, he (Makinde) accused a senior official of the commission of working with the vice-chancellor of a federal university to undermine the election. The allegation was not true “.

Ondo Elections: Aiyedatiwa receives praise

before, Legit.ng reported that Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was commended for appointing women to his campaign council for the upcoming governorship election.

The Special Adviser on Women Affairs to the Governor, Seun Osamaye, said Governor Aiyedatiwa, through the appointment, has sent a powerful message about the capabilities and potential of women as leaders.

The Central Co-Chairperson (Women Committee, APC Ondo Governorship Campaign Council) added that the appointment also provides a platform for women to bring their unique perspectives and ideas to the decision-making process in the state.

Source: Legit.ng