Ondo guber: Group petitions REC

Barely 45 days to the off-cycle gubernatorial election in Ondo state, a group, Ondo State Vanguard, has accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, of plotting to manipulate the results of the forthcoming election in favour of All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

In the petition to the Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, dated September 27, 2024, filed by Adeniyi Farinto & Co. (Legal Practitioners), the group alleged that Mrs. Babalola had been engaging in nocturnal meetings with the candidate of APC, Governor Aiyedatiwa, and the state Chairman of APC, Engineer Ade Adetimehin.

According to the attorney, the petitioner, Ondo State Youth Vanguard, a coalition of youth comprising duly registered voters and residents of Ondo state, demanded that the REC, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, be redeployed from the state on grounds that she allegedly could not be fair if allowed to conduct the November 16, 2024 gubernatorial election in the state.

The petitioner also alleged that Babalola had a handful of members of APC as childhood friends while growing up in Akure, the capital of Ondo state.

But in a reaction, Mr Biodun Amosun, INEC’s administrative secretary, Ondo state, said the petition filed against the REC would be handled by national headquarters of the commission.

He assured that all votes would count in the November 16, 2024, off-cycle gubernatorial polls in the state.

Amosun said; “We have heard your demands. The thing (petition) is being handled at the headquarters.

“It is not easy for INEC to do anything if you vote. Ensure you have a situation room where you collate results from the polling units.”