Ahead of next week’s governorship election in Ondo state, the Coalition of All Civil Society Organisation in the state, Wednesday, passed a vote of confidence in the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola.
The group stated this during a press conference in Akure, the state capital, condemned the call for the redeployment of Babalola, saying the REC has displayed sense of professionalism towards the electoral process without bias.
The Chairman of the Coalition of CSOs in the State, Comrade Franklin Oloniju, said the coalition can vouch for the REC’s integrity to be unbiased in the coming election, and said there is no need heating polity ahead of the election over the call for REC deployment.
Oloniju stated that “The civil society community in Ondo State is compelled to issue this press briefing in view of the happenings ahead of the Ondo State Governorship election 2024, today Wednesday, 7th November 2024
“The civil society community in Ondo State is worried about the activities of some political actors and leaders in the State, which are heating up the polity and creating uncertainty ahead of the 2024 Governorship election.
“We are particularly worried about the ongoing mobilisation against the person of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in the state.
“It seems this mobilisation is being orchestrated to pre-empt the outcome of the election, disrupt the peaceful political atmosphere in the state, and as a way of instigating election violence, either during or after.
“This became more worrisome especially when the call from these quarters has not ceased even when the electoral management body has swiftly responded to the removal call of the REC by a Oyo State Governor through a clear and unambiguous press statement released specifically on Tuesday 15th October 2024.
“The state of origin of the REC has never been in doubt in the past. It is shameful that political actors intending to create chaos and tensions in Ondo State are attempting to use this negative and false narrative to achieve their devilish intentions.
“The CSOs in Ondo State stand firmly against any attempts to intimidate the Resident Electoral Commissioner REC because of her gender.
“These same political parties participated in the Edo State Governorship election and never questioned or campaigned against a REC that was accused of being a member of a political party and a brother of a well-known politician in the country.
“But has now found their voice because the REC in Ondo is a woman. We would like to state categorically that we will resist any gender-based violence and intimidation in the state, as we have always done.
“We call on the Police to take extra measures to protect the woman REC and the entire State from the evil machinations of these unscrupulous elements.”
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNEÂ
and then