By Omeiza Ajayi

Ahead of the November 16 Governorship Election in Ondo state, the Ondo Youth League Action for Credible and Transparent Election on Tuesday stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in Abuja, demanding the redeployment of Resident Electoral Commissioner REC in Ondo state, Mrs. Toyin Babalola.

The development came as INEC assures of its neutrality in the forthcoming election, saying it is not a political party and so has no candidate.

The protesters wielded several placards with various inscriptions such as: “INEC, let Ondo be the example of transparency needed to build public trust across Nigeria”, “INEC, it is time to ensure fairness, redeploy Babalola”, among others.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the protesters, Mr. Ayo Adeyemi said from their findings, Babalola is from Ondo state and there are concerns about her impartiality.

INEC had repeatedly stated that Mrs Babalola is not form Ondo state.

Just few days ago, INEC said its attention had been drawn to an allegation made by the Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde at his party’s campaign rally held in Akure in which he called on the INEC Chairman to remove Mrs Babalola, because ‘she is from Ondo State’.

“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”, the commission had stated.

However, the youths on Tuesday still insisted on her redeployment.

Adeyemi said: “We, the members of the Ondo Youth League, Action for Credible and Transparent Elections, want to use this medium to call on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu to heed to wise counsel by redeploying the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola.

“Our call this morning is to ensure that the processes leading to the scheduled Saturday November 16, 2024 Governorship Election in Ondo state is not only transparent and credible, but must be coordinated by persons whose views and opinions are consistent and not biased. 

“From our findings, Mrs Babalola is from Ondo state and there are growing concerns over her impartiality and potential bias in the forthcoming election. 

“It has also been established that Mrs Babalola’s alleged fraternity with the ruling party in Ondo state is an impediment and a threat to democracy and other political parties in the election.

“In the light of the above and for the purpose of credibility and transparency, we therefore wish to reiterate our demand for the immediate redeployment of Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola as INEC REC in Ondo State.”

However, addressing the protesters, INEC National Commissioner, Maj-Gen. M.A Alkali, reiterated that INEC will not disappoint the people of Ondo State as far as the forthcoming election is concerned

He said; “I want to assure you that INEC doesn’t waiver in what we do. We listen to you people and we listen to everybody. INEC has no political party, INEC has no candidate, we are here for the country, we operate based on rules and regulations. We are a child of the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Let me restate the mission of INEC, it is to serve as an independent and effective election management body, committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in support of democracy.

“So, we don’t waiver and we promise you, we will never fail you. we have received your letter, it is with us and we have acknowledged it.”