By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of lying with claims that its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo, Mrs Toyin Babalola is also from the state.
Makinde made the claim while speaking during a campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the November 2024 governorship election in Ondo State in Akure on Tuesday.
The Oyo State Governor had at at the rally called on the INEC Chairman to remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, because “she is from Ondo State.”
However, contrary to the claim of the governor, INEC said Mrs. Babalola is not from Ondo State.
The Commission said this was in line with the its policy not to deploy a REC to his or her State of origin. However, INEC added that this was not the first time that Governor Makinde with be levelling false allegation against its officials.
” In 2020, ahead of the last Governorship election in the same State, he accused a senior official of the Commission of working with the Vice Chancellor of a federal university to undermine the election. The allegation was untrue,”
“We appeal to holders of high public office such as Governor Makinde to verify their information before making these serial, unfounded allegations” said INEC
Read the full statement of INEC below.
Our attention has been drawn to an allegation made by the Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde at his party’s campaign rally held today in Akure in which he called on the INEC Chairman to remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, because “she is from Ondo State.”
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For the avoidance of doubt, Mrs. Babalola is not from Ondo State in line with the Commission’s policy not to deploy a REC to his or her State of origin.
In 2020, ahead of the last Governorship election in the same State, he accused a senior official of the Commission of working with the Vice Chancellor of a federal university to undermine the election. The allegation was untrue.
We appeal to holders of high public office such as Governor Makinde to verify their information before making these serial, unfounded allegations.