The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has petitioned the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, demanding immediate replacement of the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Toyin Babalola.
The PDP in demanding the replacement of the REC also asked the INEC boss to deploy a “non-partisan official with no previous association with Ondo State.”
In a letter signed and made available to LEADERSHIP in Akure by the state secretary of the party, Oluseye Olujimi Esq, the PDP urged the INEC boss to treat the demand with seriousness and urgency it deserves for the preservation of the nation’s very fragile democracy and the restoration of public confidence in the commission’s integrity.
According to the PDP, replacing the REC should not be a change too difficult for the commission to effect, if the chairman sincerely, genuinely and intentionally cares about restoring the faith of democracy-loving Nigerians in INEC.
The party noted that,”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.”
The letter reads in part, “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 parents’ 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.
“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.
“Moreover, 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, H.E. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
“Such an unfortunate scenario leaves us wondering and asking: What is going to be the fate of the other contestants under such most disproportionately skewed circumstances? The above have put to question, the REC’s neutrality in the upcoming election, where the umpire is expectedly should be absolutely unbiased and non-partisan.
“Related to this is the condonement of the APC agents and collaboration of INEC ad-hoc staff in the ongoing collection of the voters’ cards, where details of voters are written out by or for the APC.
“Certainly, all the facts deposed above cannot but call to question the Ondo State REC’s neutrality in the upcoming election where as the umpire, she is expected to be absolutely unbiased and non-partisan.
“The unwholesome scenario now unfolding in Ondo State, may further put a question mark on the integrity of your Commission, which integrity became even more questionable, following the controversial election held in Edo State recently,” the Ondo PDP noted.
