Ahead of the governorship election in Ondo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the allegation made by the Governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde that Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Toyin Babalola hails from the state was unfounded and untrue.
Makinde was said to have made the allegation during the campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
However, reacting to the allegation via a post on its verified X handle, the new electoral body appealed to holders of high public office to verify their information before making unfounded allegations.
The commission added that in 2020, ahead of the last governorship election in the same State, Makinde accused a senior official of the Commission of working with the Vice Chancellor of a federal university to undermine the election.
It stressed that the allegation was also untrue.
It stated: “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.”
“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.”
