Protesters Demand Redeployment of Ondo State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner
A large crowd of protesters gathered at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja, demanding the immediate redeployment of Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State. The protesters, organized by the Ondo Youth League, held banners and placards with quotes such as “Mahmood: Redeploy Babalola Now” and “We Don’t Want a Repeat of Edo Fiasco,” effectively blocking access to the national headquarters.
The protesters sought a meeting with INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to express their concerns about Babalola’s alleged connections to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, had raised a week prior during a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rally in Akure.
Ayo Adeyemi, the leader of the protesters and Convener of the Ondo Youth League, emphasized that while they held no personal grievances against Babalola, they could not ignore potential bias in the forthcoming election. “Redeploying Babalola is in the best interest of our people and INEC to ensure a free and credible election,” Adeyemi said.
The protesters believe that Babalola’s roots in Ondo State could compromise her impartiality as REC, saying, “We’re not here to criticize INEC’s operations; we just want an unbiased REC to oversee the upcoming governorship election.” They added that while Babalola has achieved remarkable things, her local connections make it essential to reassign her for a fair and free election.
INEC National Commissioner, Major General Modibbo Alkali (retd), acknowledged the protesters’ concerns, praising their disciplined behavior and assuring them that the commission would take their concerns into account.
Alkali reiterated INEC’s commitment to impartiality, saying, “We operate independently, without alignment to any political party or candidate. We function under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” He guaranteed that the commission would “consider it thoroughly” and address the concerns raised by the protesters.
