The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has turned down a request from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to redeploy the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
Speaking on Monday, Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, the spokesperson for INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, explained that there is no basis for removing Mrs. Babalola, as no evidence of unethical conduct has been presented against her.
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The PDP had formally expressed concerns about Mrs. Babalola’s ability to maintain impartiality, citing her over 30 years of residency in Ondo State despite not being a native.
The party argued that her familiarity with the state and her residence in a family home in Akure could affect her neutrality in the election.
In its letter to INEC, PDP emphasized that under the Nigerian Constitution, anyone who has lived in a state for a decade qualifies as an indigene.
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The party questioned INEC’s vetting process, suggesting that the commission’s deployment decision lacked thoroughness, thereby casting doubt on its commitment to a controversy-free election.
In response, INEC stood by its decision, reiterating that its guidelines prohibit posting a REC to their state of origin.
Oyekanmi highlighted that there are clear legal criteria for the removal of a REC, none of which have been met in Mrs. Babalola’s case.
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He further assured that INEC’s deployment policies are well-established and transparent, emphasizing the commission’s intention to conduct a fair election in Ondo State.
“The commission deploys RECs based on a strict policy, and Mrs. Babalola’s posting aligns with that policy. To date, there has been no valid evidence of misconduct that would justify her redeployment,” Oyekanmi stated.
Despite INEC’s position, the PDP remains determined to pursue Mrs. Babalola’s removal.
Kennedy Peretei, the party’s spokesperson in Ondo State, expressed disappointment with INEC’s defense of the REC, accusing the electoral body of shielding staff from scrutiny.
Peretei asserted that the PDP will closely monitor Mrs. Babalola’s actions in the lead-up to the election, insisting that the party will not relent in demanding her redeployment.
He raised concerns about the impartiality of the upcoming election, suggesting that INEC’s decision calls into question its readiness to ensure a transparent electoral process in Ondo State.
“With less than a month until the election, we will continue to scrutinize Mrs. Babalola’s role, and we are not backing down from our demand for her removal,” Peretei said.
