Ondo Guber: PDP Demands Change of Resident Electoral Commissioner

As the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State approaches, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has renewed its call for the redeployment of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola. The opposition party raised concerns over Babalola’s residency and her potential partiality in overseeing the election.

In an open letter addressed to INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, the PDP emphasized the need for the REC’s immediate replacement. The letter cited Babalola’s deep connections with Ondo State as the main reason for concern, alleging that her permanent residence in the state compromises her neutrality.

The party’s State Secretary, Oluseye Olujimi, highlighted that Babalola and her family are longtime residents of Ondo, living at No. 3 Majekodunmi Street in Akure South, which calls her impartiality into question. He stressed that the REC’s ongoing presence in the state makes her “an established resident,” raising doubts about her ability to conduct a fair election.

Olujimi further argued that the replacement of Babalola is crucial to safeguard the nation’s fragile democracy and restore public trust in INEC’s electoral processes. The letter noted:

“For the umpteenth time, we are calling on you to urgently replace Mrs. Toyin Babalola with a non-partisan official with no prior affiliation to Ondo State. This is vital to preserve the integrity of our electoral process and avoid any potential crisis.”

The PDP referenced a recent statement from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who also demanded the REC’s redeployment, warning that continued protests would follow if INEC did not act. The party further claimed that this was not the first time such a request had been made.

In its letter, the PDP reiterated earlier accusations that Babalola’s connections to Ondo State, including her residence in her family home, present a conflict of interest. The party contended that despite INEC’s recent defense of the REC, her ties to the state are too strong to ignore.

“INEC’s failure to diligently investigate her background is concerning, especially in light of the REC’s residency and alleged secret meetings with the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa,” the letter added. According to the PDP, these meetings cast further doubt on her neutrality.

The party concluded by questioning the fairness of the upcoming election, asserting that the REC’s connections to the state and her alleged partiality threaten the credibility of the electoral process.