Akure: Forty-five days to the off-circle gubernatorial election in Ondo State, a group, Ondo State Vanguard, has petitioned Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), alleging the Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) of the state, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola of plotting to manipulate the results of the forthcoming election in favour of All Progressives Congress(APC) and its candidate, Luck Aiyedatiwa.
In the petition dated September 27, 2024, filed on behalf of the group by Adeniyi Farinto & Co. (Legal Practitioners), the group alleged that Mrs. Babalola has been engaging in nocturnal meetings with the candidate of APC, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the state Chairman of APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin.
The petitioner, Ondo State Youth Vanguard, which is described by its attorney as a coalition of Youths whose members are duly registered voters with the Independent National Electoral Commission and residents of Ondo State, demanded that the REC, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, should be redeployed from the state on grounds that she allegedly could not be fair if allowed to conduct the November 16, 2024 gubernatorial election in Ondo State.
Besides, the petitioner alleged that Mrs. Babalola had a handful of members of APC as her childhood friends while growing up in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.
But in reaction to the petition, a copy of which was sent to the INEC office in Ondo State, Mr Biodun Amosun, the Administrative Secretary of INEC, Ondo State, said the petition filed against the REC, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola would be handled by National Headquarters of the commission.
He assured that all votes would count in the November 16, 2024, off-circle gubernatorial election in the state.
Amosun said; “We have heard your demands The thing is being handled at the headquarters.
“It is not easy for INEC to do anything if you vote. Ensure you have a situation room where you collate results from the polling units.”
The petition reads in parts: “We write on behalf of our Clients to express our utmost concern and disappointment regarding the activities of the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola who has lately been seen conspicuously associating with Politicians, particularly with the incumbent Governor, His Excellency, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ade Adetimeyin with reckless abandon.
“We were reliably informed by our clients, that Mrs. Oluwatoxin Babalola was appointed as Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner on Monday, 18th December, 2023 to replace Dr. Rufus Akeju preparatory to the off-cycle Governorship Election coming up in Ondo State on the 16th day of November, 2024.
“We were further informed by our clients whom we verily believe that the said Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, upon assumption of office since the 18th day of December 2023 has started fraternizing with prominent All. Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftains in Ondo State, especially the Chairman of the party in Ondo State, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and His Excellency Lucky Aiyedatiwa before the primary Elections conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the 20th day of April 2024.
“Discreet investigation conducted by our clients revealed that between the 20th day of April 2024 when the primary Election to nominate the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was conducted and now, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola has held three (3) nocturnal meetings with the incumbent Governor of the State, His Excellency, Lucky Aiyedatiwa who is the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming coming 16th November 2024. This raises serious concerns among the Citizens, Voters, and Stakeholders in Ondo State of the impartiality and neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the forthcoming Gubernatorial Elections in Ondo State.
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“We were further informed by our clients that the incumbent Governor of Ondo State has recently allocated certain plots of land in different choice locations in Akure the state capital to Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola and promised to build a house for her if she uses her influence and power as the Ondo State Electoral Commissioner to manipulate and rig the forthcoming Election in his favour.
“Our Clients further informed us that Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola was born, bred and had educational background in Akure, Ondo State, because of which she has so many friends in Akure who are prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and that the body language of the said Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola lately has been tilting towards supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, His Excellency, Lucky Aiyedatiwa as she did when she unilaterally validated the report of the Primary Election of the All Progressive Congress which never held in the state.
“Apart from the above fact, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commission has been living in Akure the state Capital at No. 3, Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka area, Akure with her parents for more than ten (10) years before she is appointed the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, and she, and her parents are known to be card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The above facts which are in the public domain are an attestation to the fact that Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola will not and can never be fair, unbiased, and an uncompromised umpire in the forthcoming Ondo State Governorship Election as the Resident Electoral Commissioner.
“We were also informed by our Clients that the party in government in Ondo State, which is the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been boasting to the hearing of the general populace in Ondo State that the said Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola was made the Resident Electoral Commissioner and posted to Ondo State to manipulate, actualize and ensure the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at all cost in the forthcoming Governorship Election of November 16th, 2024 in Ondo State.
“It is pertinent to note that our Clients would not have taken the assertions made by Politicians from the All Progressives Congress (APC) seriously but Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola’s activities lately constitute a confirmation of this heinous plot to rig the Election in favour of the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as she is mostly seen with prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with whom she grew up in Akure, Ondo State and this attitude and conduct of hers is putting the neutrality and integrity of the Commission and the Electoral process in doubt and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have also been further boasting that they would use the template of the just concluded Governorship Election in Edo State to ensure victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming November 16th, 2024 Gubernatorial Election in Ondo State.
“We have the firm instructions of our Clients to bring to your notice the activities of the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner and to implore you as a matter of urgency to immediately transfer Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola as the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner before the forthcoming Ondo State Gubernatorial Elections set to hold on the 16th day of November 2024.
“This demand became necessary and imperative to safeguard the Electoral Integrity and Fairness and level playing ground in the forthcoming Gubernatorial Election in Ondo State.
“The compromised position of Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola is further undermined by her activities and alliance with members of political parties within the state. This clearly, is a conflict of interest which threatens to undermine the foundation of our democracy and imperil the trust of the people of Ondo State in the Electoral process.
Her association with notable politicians in Ondo State especially members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) indicates the politicization of the Electoral process leading to loss of faith in the democratic system
“It is our firm belief that your Commission has the sacred duty and responsibility to protect the integrity of the Electoral process and maintain public trust in the forthcoming Election in Ondo Staten
“We hereby urge you Sir to use your good offices to immediately transfer Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola out of Ondo State and to be given another role within your Commission and appoint a neutral, unbiased, and credible individual as the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Ondo State to superintend the forthcoming Governorship Election.
“This is not merely a request, but also an imperative duty to safeguard the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission as the Commission responsible for protecting democracy and electoral processes carried out in the nation at large.”
