“Verify Your Information Before Making These Serial, Unfounded Allegations,” INEC To Governor Makinde
..REC not from Ondo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, that the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Oluwatoyin Babalola, is an indigene of the state.
Speaking during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign flag off in Akure on Tuesday, Makinde had said the REC must be removed to ensure the neutrality of the electoral umpire.
He said Babalola is from Ondo State, adding that the opposition party will protest until she is removed.
However, in a statement posted on its X account on Tuesday night, INEC described the allegation as false.
“Our attention has been drawn to an allegation made by the Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, at his party’s campaign rally held today in Akure in which he called on the INEC Chairman to remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, because she is from Ondo State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Mrs. Babalola is not from Ondo state in line with the commission’s policy not to deploy a REC to his or her state of origin.
“In 2020, ahead of the last governorship election in the same state, he accused a senior official of the commission of working with the vice chancellor of a federal university to undermine the election. The allegation was untrue.
“We appeal to holders of high public office, such as Governor Makinde, to verify their information before making these serial, unfounded allegations,” the commission said.