CSOs, ZLP Candidate Oppose PDP’s Demand To Replace Ondo REC
Ahead of Ondo State’s November 16 governorship election, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the state and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) candidate, Mr. Abass Mimiko, have rejected calls for the removal of the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to redeploy Babalola, citing concerns over her impartiality.
The PDP claimed Babalola’s ties to Ondo State and alleged connections to leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) raised doubts about her ability to oversee a fair election. However, in a press briefing held in Akure, the Ondo State CSO Chairman, Mr. Frank Olonite, condemned these accusations as politically motivated attempts to undermine the upcoming election and provoke unrest.
Olonite emphasized the potential harm of the ongoing “mobilisation” against the REC, warning it could create chaos and disrupt the election. “The civil society community in Ondo State is worried about political actors heating up the polity and creating uncertainty ahead of the 2024 governorship election,” he said, stressing that CSOs in Ondo stand firmly against intimidation tactics targeting Babalola. He added that the push for her redeployment seemed designed to destabilize the state’s peaceful political environment.
Olonite also drew attention to what he called a double standard, citing that these political actors did not oppose the REC’s role in past elections under similar circumstances. “These same political parties participated in the Edo State governorship election without questioning a REC with alleged ties to a political party, yet they now voice concerns because the REC in Ondo is a woman,” he remarked, vowing to resist any forms of gender-based intimidation against Babalola.
In alignment with the CSOs, Mr. Abass Mimiko, the ZLP candidate, expressed his full support for Babalola, commending her dedication and transparency in preparing for the election. “Mrs. Babalola has shown great diligence and commitment to her duties,” Mimiko stated. He called on all political stakeholders to trust INEC’s ability to conduct a credible and transparent election, ensuring it reflects the people’s will. Mimiko added that he has “full confidence in her impartiality and the integrity of her work,” reinforcing the ZLP’s commitment to a peaceful election process.
Both the CSOs and Mimiko urged security agencies to protect Babalola and ensure a safe environment for the election, calling on the police to take action against any actors attempting to provoke tension or undermine the democratic process in Ondo State.
