INEC replies Makinde, says Ondo REC doesn’t hail from state

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations by Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, that Toyin Babalola, the Ondo state resident electoral commission (REC), is an indigene of the state.

Speaking during the launch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo, Makinde said the REC must be removed to ensure the neutrality of the electoral umpire.

“This message is for INEC national chairman Yakubu Mahmood that you must redeploy the Ondo REC, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola. She is from Ondo state,” he said.

“We will protest until she is removed. Ondo REC must be redeployed. She was born here; her parents live here. She can never be fair in this election. We don’t want her in Ondo state; Babalola must leave.”

However, in a statement on Tuesday, INEC described the allegation as false.

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

“For the avoidance of doubt, Mrs. Babalola is not from Ondo state in line with the commission’s policy not to deploy a REC to his or her state of origin.

“In 2020, ahead of the last governorship election in the same state, he accused a senior official of the commission of working with the vice-chancellor of a federal university to undermine the election. The allegation was untrue.

“We appeal to holders of high public office, such as Governor Makinde, to verify their information before making these serial, unfounded allegations.”