Babatope Okeowo 
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has faulted the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on the claim that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, is not from the state.
The state Secretary of the PDP, Mr Oluseye Olujimi said the claim of Prof Yakubu that Mrs Babalola is not from the state is not correct as the woman grew up in the state and still lives in her family house within the state capital.
Recall that Prof Yakubu has faulted the claim of Governor Seyi Makinde that Mrs Babalola cannot conduct the November 16 governorship election because she is from the state and has a vested interest in who becomes the governor of the state.
However, Olujimi, in a letter to the INEC Chairman, insisted that Mrs Babalola should be replaced with a REC with a non-partisan official with no previous association with Ondo State.
Olujimi said the removal of the REC would preserve the nation’s fragile democracy and the restoration of public confidence in the commission’s integrity.
He said the REC is not morally fit to supervise the November 16 governorship election.
The letter read, “It has come to light that the REC is a bonafide resident of Ondo State with her family permanently domiciled at No. 3 Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area of Akure Town, in Akure South. She remains, therefore, an established resident of Ondo State.
“Quite unfortunately, however, a statement credited to you on Tuesday said the REC would not be removed because she is not from the State, even though you refused to mention her State of Origin.
“A diligent check on the background of the REC would have revealed to you that not only did she grow up in Ondo State, but that she currently also lives in her parent’s house, which is No. 3 Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area, Akure Town, the State Capital.
“Even if she were not of Ondo State origin by birth, the constitution of Nigeria makes it quite clear that anyone who has lived in a particular place for a period of ten years statutorily qualifies for recognition as an indigene.
“In like manner, all her educational and career pursuits had emanated from her Ondo State permanent address in Akure.
“Furthermore, and this is even more damaging, she has been having serious links with the APC government cum its gubernatorial candidate in the upcoming November election in Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
“Chairman Sir, it is obvious that your office did not do a diligent check before issuing that unfortunate statement. That unfortunate omission on your part, sadly gives the impression that INEC cares less, should the issue of the REC’s residency status and dubious integrity result in avoidable controversies and/or crises, that may fall out from any unwitting act of replicating in the upcoming Ondo State election, the controversial APC template so ignominiously used in the recent Edo State gubernatorial election, the dust from which is yet to settle.
“Apart from being a member of Akure Town in particular, and Ondo State Community in general, which disqualifies her from the Ondo REC job; going by the rule of engagement of your Commission, it has also been established that the REC, has all along been holding nocturnal meetings with the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the forthcoming election, in the person of the incumbent Governor of the State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.”
Also, Olujimi alleged that the APC agents in collaboration with INEC ad-hoc staff of INEC have been collecting details of those who have come for the collection of their permanent voters’ card.”
The PDP chieftain pleaded with the INEC Chairman to prevent whatever acts of commission or omission could lead to anarchy and major threats to communal peace or, worse still, unhealthy political developments capable of derailing the country’s nascent democracy.
