The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state, on Sunday demanded the redeployment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Oluwatoyin Babalola, ahead of next month governorship election in the state.
The PDP called for Babalola’s redeployment was contained in an open letter to the National Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, attributing the call for the REC removal to her affinity and connection with the state and it’s people.
The party specifically identified Babalola as a bonafide resident of Ondo State with her family permanently domiciled at No. 3 Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area of Akure town, in Akure South, saying She remains therefore an established resident of Ondo State.
The Ondo PDP in the letter signed by its State Secretary, Oluseye Olujimi, said the request becomes imperative for the preservation of the nation’s fragile democracy and the restoration of Public confidence in the Commission’s integrity.
The letter reads: “For the umpteenth time, we are calling on you, to as a matter of urgency, replace the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, appointed and posted to Ondo State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under your authority, with a non-partisan official with no previous association with Ondo State.
“We also counsel that you view this request with the seriousness and urgency it deserves for the preservation of our nation’s very fragile democracy and the restoration of Public confidence in your Commission’s integrity.
“It has become expedient, that you act positively on the content of this letter, following a statement credited to your Commission on Tuesday 15, October 2024, in direct reaction to the call by the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, that the Ondo REC should be replaced.
“Governor Seyi Makinde’s warning that the PDP will continue to protest until its request is met, should not be taken as an empty threat. Moreso, since it is on record, that the Governor’s call of Tuesday, was not the first time the Party had made such a request”
Olujimi stated further in the letter that “Our Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had earlier mentioned to you in a previous letter to your office, that the Ondo State Commissioner, Mrs. Toyin Babalola is not morally and reasonably fit to supervise the gubernatorial election fixed for November 16.
“This is on account of the very likelihood of compromise, as it has come to light that the REC, is a bonafide resident of Ondo State with her family permanently domiciled at No. 3 Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area of Akure Town, in Akure South. She remains therefore an established resident of Ondo State.
“Quite unfortunately, however, a statement credited to you on Tuesday, said the REC would not be removed because she is not from the State, even though you refused to mention her State of origin.
“A diligent check on the background of the REC would have revealed to you that, not only did she grow up in Ondo State, but that she currently also lives in her parents house which is No. 3 Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area, Akure Town, the State Capital.
“Even if she were not of Ondo State origin by birth, the constitution of Nigeria makes it quite clear, that anyone who has lived in a particular place for a period of ten years, statutorily qualifies for recognition as an indigene”
The party however, noted that INEC failed to do diligent check on Babalola before issuing statement on Ondo REC residency status
“That unfortunate omission on your part, sadly gives the impression that INEC cares less, should the issue of the REC’s residency status and dubious integrity result in avoidable controversies and/or crises, that may fall out from any unwitting act of replicating in the upcoming Ondo State election, the controversial APC template so ignominiously used in the recent Edo State gubernatorial election, the dust from which is yet to settle.
“Moreover, apart from being a member of Akure Town in particular, and Ondo State Community in general, which disqualifies her from the Ondo REC job; going by the rule of engagement of your Commission, it has also been established that the REC, has all along been holding nocturnal meetings with the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the forthcoming election, in the person of the incumbent Governor of the State, H.E. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
“Such an unfortunate scenario leaves us wondering and asking: What is going to be the fate of the other contestants under such most disproportionately skewed circumstances?
“The above have put to question, the REC’s neutrality in the upcoming election, where the umpire is expectedly should be absolutely unbiased and non partisan.
” Related to this is the condonement of the APC agents and collaboration of INEC Ad-hoc Staff in the ongoing collection of the voters cards, where details of voters are written out by or for the APC.
“Certainly, all the facts deposed above, cannot but call to question the Ondo State REC’s neutrality in the upcoming election; where as the umpire, she is expected to be absolutely unbiased and non-partisan.
“The unwholesome scenario now unfolding in Ondo State, may further put a question mark on the integrity of your Commission, which integrity became even more questionable, following the controversial election held in Edo State recently” the letter read.
It stated futher that ” Mr. Chairman, you may wish to know also, that the controversial Edo State election, has already charged up the atmosphere here in Ondo State ahead of the November 16 election.
“Hence, the rational thing for an unbiased umpire to do, would have been to use the Ondo election, as an opportunity to begin to work at gradually regaining voters’ confidence as well as restoring INEC’s lost integrity.
“Replacing the Ondo REC should not be a change too difficult for you to effect, if you sincerely, genuinely and intentionally care about restoring the faith of democracy-loving Nigerians in your organisation INEC.
“At this juncture, we would like to plead with you, to use the authority of your exalted office, to prevent whatever acts of commission or omission that could lead to anarchy and major threats to communal peace, or worse still, unhealthy political developments capable of derailing the country’s nascent democracy.
“Unarguably, it is only by handling the Ondo election in the most professional manner, in accordance with global best practices, devoid of any trace of preferential treatment or concealment of any kind to favour any of the contestants and their parties, that your organisation can claim to have done commendably.
“The first available opportunity to do this, and certainly a low-hanging achievement fruit at that, is to conduct a credible, fair and near-perfect, if not perfect election, in Ondo state come November 16.
“To achieve this, is to come clean with transparent preparations ahead of the election.
“The first step to demonstrate this, must be to redeploy Mrs. Toyin Babalola as the REC from Ondo State, and replace her with a non-partisan REC, whose open transparency and unquestionable neutrality, will no doubt greatly help to reassure and motivate voters in Ondo State, in the build-up to the November election.
“For the purpose of emphasis again, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, Ondo State REC, is not by any means qualified to be an umpire in the upcoming Gubernatorial election in Ondo State, because she has been residing in Ondo State for more than three decades now, even up till this moment, with her parents and siblings at House Number 3, Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area of Akure Town.
“In like manner, all her educational and career pursuits had emanated from her Ondo State permanent address in Akure.
Furthermore, and this is even more damaging, she has been having serious links with the APC government cum its gubernatorial candidate in the upcoming November election in Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa”.