Youths under the auspices of Ondo State Youth Vanguard protested yesterday against the alleged hobnobbing of the Resident National Electoral Commissioner in the state, REC, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, with politicians in the state and called for her redeployment ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
The protesting youths, who stormed the commission’s office in Akure, were armed with placards of various inscriptions such as ‘Ondo REC must be changed,’ ‘Our election must count,’ ‘Ondo is not Edo,’ and ‘Ondo REC must go.’
The leader of the group, Olawale Ijanusi, who called for her removal, said that the peaceful protest became necessary to register their grievances over the activities of the REC.
Ijanusi stated, “This raises serious concerns among the citizens, voters, and stakeholders in Ondo state regarding the impartiality and neutrality of INEC.
“The Ondo State REC has been living in Akure with her parents for over 10 years before her appointment as the State REC, and her parents are known to be card-carrying members of a political party.
“The above facts, which are in the public domain, attest to the fact that Mrs. Babalola will not and can never be a fair, unbiased, and uncompromised umpire in the forthcoming Ondo State Governorship Election as the REC.
“We have been hearing rumours that the REC has been engaging with certain political parties. We do not know whether it is the APC, PDP, or Labour Party, but we want to caution her and demand that, if true, she should stop.”