Protesters gathered at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja yesterday, demanding the immediate redeployment of Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
The protest, led by the Ondo Youths League (OYL), raised concerns about Babalola’s neutrality, alleging that her perceived connections with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) might compromise the credibility of the election. The demonstrators carried placards with messages accusing Babalola of being too familiar with the state’s political landscape, suggesting that her presence could skew the election in favour of one party.
Ayo Adeyemi, the OYL convener, addressed the crowd, calling on INEC to transfer Babalola to another state to ensure a transparent electoral process. “We respect her achievements, especially as a woman who has reached this level in her career, but we believe that to ensure a fair election, she should be reassigned. Though she hasn’t committed any wrongdoing, her connections in Ondo could create a potential conflict of interest,” Adeyemi remarked.
Responding to the protest, INEC National Commissioner Modibbo Alkali assured the demonstrators that their concerns would be considered. He emphasized that INEC is committed to impartiality and follows the Nigerian Constitution in all electoral matters. “We acknowledge your petition, and the chairman will thoroughly review it,” Alkali stated. He reiterated that INEC’s primary goal is to deliver credible elections and safeguard democracy.
The protest comes after a similar demonstration occurred weeks ago at INEC’s office in Akure, where members of the Ondo State Youth Vanguard also voiced their concerns about Babalola’s alleged meetings with APC officials. Despite these protests, INEC has previously stated that it has no immediate plans to replace the REC.
Adding further support to the call for Babalola’s redeployment, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State recently urged INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu to remove Babalola, citing potential bias. He warned that the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would not stand idly by if there was any risk to the fairness of the election.
Governor Makinde emphasized the PDP’s stance, stating that the party would continue its protests until Babalola is reassigned, insisting that transparency and fairness are critical for a free and fair election in Ondo State.
