The ruling All Progressives Congress on Tuesday warned the opposition to desist from targeting state Resident Electoral Commissioners and sponsoring needless demonstrations on the eve of major elections.
The warning comes a few hours after scores of protesters from Ondo State stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja to demand an immediate redeployment of the state REC, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola.
While waving different banners and placards that read ‘Mahmood: Redeploy Babalola now’ and ‘We don’t want a repeat of Edo fiasco,’ the demonstrators blocked the entrance to the national secretariat, demanding to see the National Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to press home their demand.
The development comes one week after the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, made a similar request, citing concerns over Babalola’s alleged ties to the All Progressives Congress.
Makinde, who spoke at the Peoples Democratic Party campaign rally in Akure, argued that Babalola’s background from Ondo may compromise the neutrality of the electoral process.
Sharing the governor’s position in Abuja, on Tuesday, the leader of the demonstrators and convener of Ondo Youth League, Ayo Adeyemi, told journalists that though they had no axe to grind with the REC, his people could not, however, afford to leave everything to chance.
According to him, redeploying Babalola was in the best interest of their people and INEC to promote a free and credible election.
He said, “We urgently demand that INEC redeploy Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, from the state.
“As a people, we do not hate or loathe her. We are proud to have a woman rise from the background to such an elevated position of excellence, especially in the public sector. So we celebrate her.
“But when it comes to having a free and fair election for the people of Ondo, we can’t have Babalola in charge of affairs.
“She grew up and lived most of her life in the state. She achieved excellence and knows virtually everybody in the Ondo public sector, including the beer parlours and pepper soup joints.
“When you have such a person rise to the current position she is in her career, she cannot be seen holding favours for certain persons, either in the public or private sector.
“Babalola has not done anything wrong. We just want her redeployed to another state. That is all we are demanding.
“We are not here to quarrel or teach INEC how to do its job. But they should give us somebody who is not partisan or biased to oversee the forthcoming governorship election.”
Addressing the protesters, INEC National Commissioner, Maj Gen Modibbo Alkali (retd), appreciated them for being orderly in pressing home their demands.
Alkali also promised them that the commission would look into their demand.
He said, “We are happy to see you come here well organised. It shows you are disciplined.
“INEC is always represented everywhere and we are one. But we have to abandon a meeting we are having here at the commission to come and receive you on behalf of the chairman and INEC.
“I want to assure you that INEC doesn’t waver in whatever we do. We listen to everybody. INEC has no political party or candidates. We are here for the country and operate based on rules and regulations. We are a child of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We promise not to fail you. We have received your letter and acknowledge it. So, in that aspect, for the interest of this country, all of us have to make some sacrifices.
“Your complaint will be delivered, analysed and considered by the commission chairman.”
But the ruling party said the protest may have been sponsored to blackmail and pressure the commission into removing Babalola, despite knowing they stood no chance of winning the election.
In an exclusive phone chat with The PUNCH, the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, expressed concerns that the trend of demanding REC redeployment before a major election in the country was becoming a vicious circle.
Ibrahim recalled that a similar scenario was witnessed in the build-up to the Edo State governorship election where supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party made a similar demand.
He said, “These protesters might have been sponsored to come and demonstrate. Her relationship with people should not be used against her. It is the way and manner she conducts herself. If it infringes on the position of the law, she should be sanctioned. If it doesn’t, I don’t see any reason she should be redeployed.
“We have seen such shenanigans in Edo where, prior to the election, some people were sponsored to protest against the state REC simply because he has a relationship with someone.
“Anybody holding public office in Nigeria, especially one that has to do with being an umpire, you are bound to be accused of one thing or the other by people who don’t have confidence in themselves. Accusations will always come from people who are not properly prepared to face an election.
“If there is anything to show she is involved in wrongdoing, she should be sanctioned or transferred. But if there is none, the onus is on those making the allegation to prove it. The position of the law is that you are innocent until proven otherwise.”
The Ondo State chapter of the APC also condemned the protest staged by some youths in Abuja.
In a statement issued by its state Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Steve Otaloro, the party described the protest as a shameful attempt to undermine the integrity of the November 16 governorship election in the state.
The statement read, “The PDP’s call for the removal of Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), is a solo effort that reeks of desperation and bitterness.
“It’s alarming that a political party would resort to such tactics, attempting to dictate who conducts an election, which is contrary to the constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act 2022.
“The APC wishes to remind the PDP that the electoral process is governed by laws and guidelines, not by the whims of any political party. We urge INEC to remain steadfast in its commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections.”
The ruling party also urged the INEC to remain impartial and not bow to the pressure of the opposition party.
“Submitting to their demands would be unfair to other participating parties and undermine the electoral process.
“It’s crucial to recognise that all parties have submitted to the electoral process and applauded INEC’s organisational efforts, except for the PDP, which continues to harass and dictate to the INEC.
“The APC believes that the PDP is building excuses for their impending loss. We caution INEC against making decisions that could compromise the election’s integrity.
“Mrs Babalola has served the commission diligently, and removing her based on fabricated allegations would be unjust,” the statement said.