Sam Philip
Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has on Wednesday passed vote of confidence in the Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) for Ondo State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola(REC) asking the leadership of Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to ignore the call by Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) for her redeployment.
IPAC declared that the REC would surely conduct the November 16 off-circle gubernatorial election in a free, fair and credible manner.
The chairman of the group, Olaoluwa Adesanya, said the steps being taken by the REC so far has shown that she’s working towards ensuring the gubernatorial election is free, fair and transparent.
He said: “Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Ondo State Chapter hereby make this press release on the protest rocking Ondo State, concerning the integrity of Ondo State INEC resident electoral Commissioner.
“IPAC Ondo State Chapter has carried out its comprehensive findings on the said matters and come out with the followings submissions.
“That IPAC equivocally stated that INEC Ondo State under the watch of the state resident electoral commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola has carried IPAC along in all the commission’s activities, as regard the forthcoming November 16th 2024 governorship election in Ondo State.
“That the alleged connivance of the state REC with any political party to subvert the coming November 16, 2024 governorship election is false and can not be substantiated whatsoever.
“IPAC Ondo State have absolute confidence in the ability of the state resident electoral commissioner Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola to conduct free, fair and credible election in the forthcoming November 16th 2024 governorship election in Ondo State.
“IPAC Ondo State Chapter hereby call on security agents to monitor and call for arrest hired political thugs that may disrupt peace, before, during and after the governorship election in Ondo State.
“IPAC Ondo State chapter, the umbrella of all political parties hereby unanimously passed votes of confidence on the INEC Ondo State Resident electoral Commissioner Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola to carry out her statutory obligations concerning the forthcoming November 16th 2024 Governorship election in Ondo State.”
It would be recalled that PDP leaders called for redeployment of the REC from Ondo State on grounds that she grew up in the state and allegedly has friends among members of All Progressives Congress, thereby could not conduct free, fair and credible election.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had vowed that PDP would continue to protest till the REC is removed from the state.