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The Civil Society Organisations in Ondo State and candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, Mr Abass Mimiko, on Thursday, rejected the call for the removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has been calling on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to redeploy Babalola, saying the party had no confidence in her leadership to conduct the forthcoming poll.
The opposition alleged that Babalola was born and bred in Ondo State and had been hobnobbing with the leaders of the APC as it expressed the fear that the election might not be free and fair under Babalola’s watch.
Addressing journalists in Akure, the state capital, the Chairman of all CSOs in Ondo State, Mr Frank Olonite, described the mobilisation against the REC as an attempt to disrupt the preparation for the election.
He said, “The civil society community in Ondo State is worried about the activities of some political actors and leaders in the state, which are heating the polity and creating uncertainty ahead of the 2024 governorship election.
“We are particularly worried about the ongoing mobilisation against the person of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in the state.
“It seems this mobilisation is being orchestrated to pre-empt the outcome of the election, disrupt the peaceful political atmosphere in the state, and as a way of instigating election violence, either during or after.
“This became more worrisome especially when the call from these quarters has not ceased even when the electoral management body has swiftly responded to the removal call of the REC by Oyo State Governor through a clear and unambiguous press statement released specifically on Tuesday 15th October 2024.”
Olonite argued that the state of origin of the REC had never been in doubt in the past, saying, “It is shameful that political actors intending to create chaos and tension in Ondo State are attempting to use this negative and false narrative to achieve their devilish intentions.”
He maintained that all the CSOs in the state stood firmly against any attempts to intimidate the commissioner.
“These same political parties participated in the Edo State governorship election and never questioned or campaigned against a REC that was accused of being a member of a political party and a brother of a well-known politician in the country, but has now found their voices because the REC in Ondo is a woman.
“We would like to state categorically that we will resist any gender-based violence and intimidation in the state, as we have always done.
“We call on the police to take extra measures to protect the woman REC and the entire state from the evil machinations of these unscrupulous elements,” the chairman stressed.
In the same vein, the candidate of the ZLP, Mr Abass Mimiko commended Mrs Babalola for doing her job to ensure the election is successful.
“Mrs Babalola has shown great diligence and commitment to her duties. We, in the ZLP, are not calling for her redeployment, as we have full confidence in her impartiality and the integrity of her work.
“I am confident that INEC will deliver as expected. We believe they are fully prepared to ensure a transparent, credible election that will truly reflect the will of the people.
“I urge all stakeholders to have faith in INEC’s commitment to upholding democratic principles,” Mimiko said.
