The Independent National Electoral Commission has refuted allegation by the Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, describing it unfounded.
The INEC said the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola is not from Ondo State as alleged by Oyo Governor.
Makinde has during the flag off of the People’s Democratic Party campaign in Akure, alleged that having Mrs Babalola in charge of the election will not give Parties level ground as “she is from Ondo State”.
He called for the removal of Mrs Babalola as REC to oversee the process.
Responding the electoral umpire said, “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.”