The reason which the governor gave for his distrust of Mrs Babalola was predicated on the fact that being from Ondo state, she could not be neutral in dealing with Elections in which her friends, family, and associates were involved. The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) contravened its own policy by posting a resident electoral commissioner to her State of origin.
INEC was quick to respond to governor Makinde that he was wrong in claiming that the Ondo state Resident Electoral Commissioner was from Ondo state , and that INEC had contravened its policy of ensuring the neutrality of its Commissioners , which is to make sure that Commissioners are never posted to their State of origin.
However, research findings by Ondo State Youth Vanguard have shown that INEC is highly culpable. Governor Makinde was right. Not only is Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner born and bred in Ondo state, her parents are residents there, and members of her family are card-carrying supporters of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC).
Consider the other ways in which Mrs Babalola is compromised, and why she must be relieved of her position as the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Ondo state.
INEC was quick to respond to governor Makinde that he was wrong in claiming that the Ondo state Resident Electoral Commissioner was from Ondo state , and that INEC had contravened its policy of ensuring the neutrality of its Commissioners , which is to make sure that Commissioners are never posted to their State of origin.
However, research findings by Ondo State Youth Vanguard have shown that INEC is highly culpable. Governor Makinde was right. Not only is Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner born and bred in Ondo state, her parents are residents there, and members of her family are card-carrying supporters of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC).
Consider the other ways in which Mrs Babalola is compromised, and why she must be relieved of her position as the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Ondo state.
1. APC members in Ondo State have been in a festive mood in preparation for the upcoming November 2024 Governorship Election. They have been assured by their leaders that Mrs Babalola, the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner has assured them that she will guarantee the victory of the APC candidate, incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
2. Mrs Babalola has already shown what she can do in terms of manipulation when she unilaterally announced Aiyedatiwa as the winner of a hotly disputed APC party primary election .
3. In the last three months, Mrs Babalola has been seen having private meetings with the governor and the Ondo State APC Chairman, Chief Ade Adetemehin. The REC has not had such meetings with the PDP Governorship candidate or the Ondo State PDP Chairman.
4. It is alleged that the governor has allocated a choice piece of land to the REC in Ondo, and has promised to build a house for her upon his re-election as the governor of the state.
2. Mrs Babalola has already shown what she can do in terms of manipulation when she unilaterally announced Aiyedatiwa as the winner of a hotly disputed APC party primary election .
3. In the last three months, Mrs Babalola has been seen having private meetings with the governor and the Ondo State APC Chairman, Chief Ade Adetemehin. The REC has not had such meetings with the PDP Governorship candidate or the Ondo State PDP Chairman.
4. It is alleged that the governor has allocated a choice piece of land to the REC in Ondo, and has promised to build a house for her upon his re-election as the governor of the state.
5. As a former Director of Legal Services at INEC Headquarters in Abuja, Mrs. Babalola is an insider who must have played a role in the evolution of INECs image as an inefficient and corrupt institution
Given her cordial relationship with members of the APC and her proven alliance with incumbent governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, it is logical to conclude that most likely she will act in their favor. No fair-minded person should believe that Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola will be a neutral umpire as is expected of her as the representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State.
The timely response of PDP leaders and the proactive investigative work of the Ondo State Youth Vanguard in particular may well save the Ondo governorship election from being stolen by the APC as it did last month in Edo State. The PDP is the country's main opposition party and as such must on behalf of the people compel INEC to live up to its responsibility to conduct free and fair elections.
After its dubious victory in the Edo Governorship race, the party's National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje in a demonstration of criminal irresponsibility announced to the nation that henceforth, his party would use the 'Edo election template 'of Colation Center rigging of final results to win future elections. The PDP must remain ever vigilant to prevent Ganduje's and his All Progressives Congress' plan to destroy democracy through their avowed audacity in manipulating election results.
Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, PhD. Public Affairs Analyst and Convener Reset Lagos PDP. Member PDP National Presidential Campaign Council (2023).
Given her cordial relationship with members of the APC and her proven alliance with incumbent governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, it is logical to conclude that most likely she will act in their favor. No fair-minded person should believe that Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola will be a neutral umpire as is expected of her as the representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State.
The timely response of PDP leaders and the proactive investigative work of the Ondo State Youth Vanguard in particular may well save the Ondo governorship election from being stolen by the APC as it did last month in Edo State. The PDP is the country's main opposition party and as such must on behalf of the people compel INEC to live up to its responsibility to conduct free and fair elections.
After its dubious victory in the Edo Governorship race, the party's National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje in a demonstration of criminal irresponsibility announced to the nation that henceforth, his party would use the 'Edo election template 'of Colation Center rigging of final results to win future elections. The PDP must remain ever vigilant to prevent Ganduje's and his All Progressives Congress' plan to destroy democracy through their avowed audacity in manipulating election results.
Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, PhD. Public Affairs Analyst and Convener Reset Lagos PDP. Member PDP National Presidential Campaign Council (2023).
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