The governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, has called for the immediate removal of the resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, ahead of the November 16th governorship election in the state.
Makinde, also the South-West Zone leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said her removal will pave the way for a free, fair, and credible governorship election in the state.
Addressing the crowd on Tuesday in Akure, the state capital, during the official flag-off ceremony of the 2024 Ondo state PDP governorship election campaign, the governor said the call for Babalola’s removal became necessary to safeguard the electoral integrity and fairness among the contestants.
While noting that the party will not allow the repeat of Edo State governorship election drama in Ondo, Makinde asked the INEC national chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmoud, to deploy another REC that will be fair and allow a level playing field to the state.
Makinde says, “This message is for the INEC national chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmoud. You must remove the REC in Ondo State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola.
“She’s from Ondo State. What they did in Edo will fail in Ondo. We will protest until she’s removed. Bring another REC that will be fair and allow a level playing field. We, as PDP, aren’t afraid of any contest. Remove her, or else we will continue to protest.”
However, he urged party supporters to go from house to house and ward to ward over the next three weeks to win souls for the PDP.
Corroborating Makinde, the party’s governorship candidate for the poll, Hon Agboola Ajayi demanded that Babalola be redeployed from the state on the grounds that she allegedly could not be fair if allowed to conduct the November 16, 2024, gubernatorial election.
“Ondo REC must be redeployed. She was born here; her parents live here. She can never be fair in this election. We don’t want her in Ondo State. Babalola must leave.”
He also listed his seven-key agenda for the state, which included infrastructure, agriculture, and health development.
“We will enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies, particularly Amotekun, Forest Guards, Vigilantes, and Traditional Hunters, through advanced training and provision of appropriate equipment. With the cooperative engagement of traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders, implement community policing and neighbourhood watch programs to improve public safety.
“Massively, we will produce food to immediately end hunger in the state by purchasing and distributing high-yield seeds, seedlings, and inputs to farmers. Increase and improve classrooms and other buildings for all primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions within the state—free and compulsory education at the primary and junior secondary levels.
On health, Agboola said his government would provide a primary health centre in each of the state’s 203 wards, staffed by trained and dedicated medical personnel, and provide essential drugs, hospital consumables, and laboratory services to patients at affordable costs.
