Protesters from Ondo, under the auspices of the Ondo Youth League and Action for Credible and Transparent Elections, continued their demonstration at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, demanding the redeployment of Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Toyin Babalola.
The protesters, led by Mr Ayo Adeyemi, submitted a petition to INEC National Commissioner, Major General Modibbo Alkali, on Tuesday, citing concerns over Babalola’s alleged fraternisation with some political parties, which could compromise the integrity of the November 16 governorship election.
Addressing the protesters who besieged the Commission headquarters again on Wednesday, INEC Acting Director Security, Ms. Ndidi Okafor, told them that the Commission was in custody of their petition but yet to hold a meeting to discuss their request.
She said: “On behalf of the Commission, I would like to say to you that the Commission has acknowledged your request, and you were presented with a copy of that acknowledgment. But you know the commission will have to meet on your request and take a decision. It is not magical. The commission has to meet.
“So I ask you to please, wait for that response, for the commission to meet and consider your requests. But one more time, let me thank you for being responsible, for being very peaceful, for expressing your views orderly.”
Leader of the Forum, Mr. Adeyemi however demanded an exact time when INEC would meet and take a position on the petition.
“Our petition that we submitted to the leadership of INEC yesterday (Tuesday) on the issue of redeploying Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current REC of Ondo state, away from that state, and bring another person that is not from that state.
“We understand that there are administrative processes because INEC is not a one-man show.
We also know that when it becomes expedient for actions to be taken to be fast-tracked, INEC has the capacity and capability to go over and beyond.
“The election that we are agitating for is just 16 days away. 16 days is too little time to be waiting for the commission to give us an answer. So we only ask in the interest of expediency, with the little time that we have at hand. And don’t let us forget that Ondo State is not just any state. It is a very important swing state.
“You can clearly see it in the way Ondo votes back home. Now voters are anxiously waiting, following up with our protest here, waiting to decide whether they are going to come out on election day to vote under a banner flown by INEC that is deemed to be credible, free and transparent, or they are going to gamble and take their chances against a banner flown by INEC that is seen as bias.”
Okafor who pleaded for an understanding restated her earlier information that the Commission was yet to meet.
“We want to tell the good people of Ondo that their vote is their right, that they need to speak on election day peacefully with their Permanent Voter Cards. They must not fail to vote.
“So please, our message and the fact that you have also aided by answering that the commission is not a one-man commission, and they have processes and procedures and that they will have to meet. That’s what I just told you earlier. They will meet, take a look at your request, consider it, and then you can get a reply. It’s not going to be magical.”
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