- Makinde: Deploy REC out of Ondo as She is a Native
- APC: Leave REC Alone, she has integrity
By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has warned Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to stop poking nose into the political affairs of Ondo state.
The party said Makinde was overstepping the boundary of his powers by attempting to dictate who does what in Ondo State.
The party stressed that Ondo State is not an appendage of Oyo where Makinde rules like an emperor.
The APC made this statement following the demand for the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ondo, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola by Seyi Makinde
Makinde made the call during the flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party’s campaign in Akure on Tuesday, ahead of the 16th November governorship election.
He urged the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to transfer Babalola, a move echoed by the PDP candidate, Agboola Ajayi, who cited her Ondo State origin as a cause for concern.
But in a statement on Wednesday, APC Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaiye, described Makinde’s remarks as inappropriate, stressing that Mrs Babalola had demonstrated “integrity, competence, and capacity” in her role since assuming office.
The statement read in part: “The REC has demonstrated integrity and competence since her appointment. It is ludicrous that Governor Makinde would make such demands when he had no influence in her posting to Ondo. Ondo State and the electoral body are not appendages of his empire, where he presides as an administrator.”
The APC further condemned Makinde’s comments as “unsolicited advice” to the people of Ondo, dismissing his warning against selling their votes.
“Ondo people are politically sophisticated and act based on conviction, not as cheaply as Mr Makinde suggests,” the statement added.
Reacting to the APC’s criticism, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kennedy Peretei, defended Makinde, labelling the APC’s response as “pedestrian.”
Peretei argued that Makinde, as a major stakeholder in the PDP, has every right to raise concerns about the REC’s impartiality.
“The Ondo APC is once again displaying its usual pedestrian approach in reacting to Governor Makinde’s call for a free and fair election,” Peretei said.
The Ondo State governorship election has been slated for November 16, 2024 by INEC.
It is believed to be a two- horse race between the incumbent governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa of the APC and Agboola Ajayi of the PDP.
Aiyedatiwa, who was formerly a deputy governor, became governor of Ondo State following the death of Rotimi Akeredolu last year.
