Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, has said she is not a
member of any political party in this election.
Denying being a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other political party, Babalola also denied holding any meeting with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
She spoke after a coalition of youths in the state under the auspices of Ondo State Youth Vanguard (OSYV) petitioned the National Chairman of INEC Professor Mahmood Yakubu, demanding her removal before the November polls.
The Ondo REC said the electoral body relates with all political parties.
Babalola said: “It is not true, I didn’t hold any clandestine meeting with the governor or any member of any political party. In INEC, we relate with all political parties, I have been operating open-door policies to all and I don’t have any preferred candidate for the election
“I am not a member of any political party. In this election, we will ensure every vote counts and I promise, there won’t be any form of bias, in this election, the election will be free, fair, and credible.”
But the coalition through their Solicitors, Adeniyi Farinto, accused Babalola of fraternizing with politicians in the state ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
According to the petition, “Clients further informed us that Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola was born, bred and had an educational background in Akure, Ondo State, by reason of which she has so many friends in Akure who are prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Apart from the fact, that she has been living in Akure, the state capital Akure with her parents for a period of more than 10 years before her appointment as the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, and she and her parents are known to be card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We implore you as a matter of urgency to immediately transfer Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola as the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner before the forthcoming Ondo State Gubernatorial Elections.
“This demand became necessary and imperative in order to safeguard the Electoral Integrity and Fairness and level playing ground in the forthcoming Gubernatorial Election in Ondo State.
“The compromised position of Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola is further undermined by her activities and alliance with members of political parties within the state. This clearly, is a conflict of interest which threatens to undermine the foundation of our democracy and imperil the trust of the people of Ondo State in the Electoral process.”