Youths under the banner of the Ondo State Youth Vanguard have staged a protest against the alleged close association of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, with politicians in the region. They are calling for her redeployment ahead of the upcoming governorship election on November 16.
The demonstration took place outside the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Akure, the state capital, where the protesters wielded placards with various slogans. Some of the inscriptions included “Ondo REC must be changed,” “Our election must count,” “Ondo is not Edo,” and “Ondo REC must go,” all demanding the removal of Babalola.
Olawale Ijanusi, the leader of the group, explained that the peaceful protest was necessary to voice their concerns regarding the REC’s activities. He accused Babalola of holding private meetings with leaders of various political parties, raising suspicions about her impartiality.
According to Ijanusi, the group’s investigation indicated that Babalola has been participating in nocturnal meetings with political figures, which undermines public confidence in INEC’s neutrality. He pointed out that Babalola has lived with her parents in Akure for over ten years, and her family are known members of a political party, which he believes compromises her ability to act fairly in the upcoming election.
“The facts are in the public domain, and they attest to the fact that Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola will not and can never be fair, unbiased, and an uncompromised umpire in the forthcoming Ondo State Governorship Election as the REC,” Ijanusi stated.
He expressed concern over rumors that Babalola had been engaging with certain political parties, though he did not specify which. “We want to caution her and demand that, if true, she should stop. Because if she is affiliated with the APC, PDP, or Labour Party, there is no way the election will be free and fair. That is why we are demanding her replacement for the sake of this election,” he added.