Babalola Assumes Duty as New Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo

Fidelis David in Akure

Less than 12 months to the 2024 governorship election in Ondo State, a new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has resumed duty in the state.

She is Mrs. Oluwatoyin O. Babalola and one of the recently sworn-in nine out of the 10 RECs by the Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu.

A statement by INEC’s Administrative Secretary in Ondo State, Biodun Onikate- Amosu, made available to journalists in Akure yesterday said the new REC resumed on Monday, 18th December 2023, replacing Dr. Rufus Akeju.

The electoral body had in September announced that the governorship election will hold on Saturday 16th November 2024 as party primaries will hold from 6th – 27th April 2024 as provided in Section 178 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

Besides, INEC said the submission of the list of nominated candidates via the online portal will start at 9.00am on 29th April 2024 and close at 6.00pm on 20th May 2024.

 Ondo, alongside Edo, Bayelsa, Kogi Anambra, Osun, Ekiti and Imo, are among the eight Nigerian states whose governorship elections are held outside the cycle of the general elections due to the outcomes of previous litigations.

Meanwhile, the tenure of the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa will end on 23rd February 2025.