Makinde to INEC: Provide Level-playing Field in Ondo Governorship Election

•Demands removal of REC 

•Charges residents to elect Ajayi governor 

•Your claim is False, INEC replies Oyo gov

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do the right thing by being fair and ensuring a level-playing field in the Ondo State governorship contest slated for November 16.

Makinde, who prayed the people of Ondo State to votew the PDP candidate, Agboola Ajayi, however, demanded the removal of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) of INEC, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola over alleged  plot to manipulate results of the election.

But the INEC, has said the claim by Makinde that Ondo REC hailed from the state was false.

Makinde had challenged the chairman of INEC, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, to remove Babalola, who is an indigene of Ondo State, because it would demonstrate fairness and transparency from the election umpire.

He stated this in Akure, during the flag-off of the PDP Governorship Campaign and Presentation of Flag to the party’s governorship candidate and former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Chief Agboola Ajayi.

The governor, who expressed satisfaction with the massive turnout of Ondo State residents at the rally held at Oyemekun Road, Akure, charged residents to elect the PDP governorship candidate in order to bring about real hope  in the state.

He, however, declared that the PDP would not watch and allow a repeat of the shenanigans that took place in the Edo State governorship election held recently, noting that his party would protest until the Ondo REC is removed and another REC is taken to the state.

“This rally is the beginning of the victory party for the PDP in Ondo State. Please go from ward to ward, house to house for the next three weeks to win souls for the PDP and it shall be well with us.

“But I have a message for the INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmood. You must remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, because she is from Ondo State.

“What you did in the past Edo election cannot be replicated here in Ondo. We will protest until she is removed. Bring another REC that would be fair and allow a level playing field. We, as PDP, are not afraid of a fair contest. Remove her, otherwise, we will continue to protest.”

The rally had in attendance the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Ilya Umar Damagum, who presented the party’s flag to Agboola, rallying residents of Ondo State to vote for the PDP to end hunger and hardship in the state.

Also in attendance were the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, other members of the PDP NWC, 2023 PDP Governorship Candidate in Ogun State, Hon Ladi Adebutu, party chieftains from different states of the country and PDP leaders across Ondo State.

INEC: Makinde’s Claim on REC False

INEC has said the claim by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, that the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, hailed from the state was false.

The electoral body, in a post on its verified X handle, appealed to holders of high public office to verify their information before making these serial, unfounded allegations.

“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’.

“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.”