Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde sparked controversy at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign launch in Akure, Ondo State on Tuesday, making a contentious claim that has raised eyebrows.
The governor, who serves on the PDP’s Ondo governorship campaign council, called for the removal of Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State, alleging she was from the state.
Governor Makinde’s statement, which quickly went viral on social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), declared: “This message is for the INEC National Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood. You must remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola. She is from Ondo State… We will protest until she is removed.”
The governor’s words, captured on video and widely shared, prompted a flurry of reactions and necessitated a thorough fact-check to verify the accuracy of his claim.
To assess the validity of Governor Makinde’s allegation, it is crucial to understand the legal framework governing the appointment and removal of RECs in Nigeria.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Chapter 6, Section 154 (1), stipulates that the President appoints RECs, subject to Senate confirmation.
The 2022 Electoral Act further elucidates the terms of office and removal procedures for RECs in Section 6 (2) and (3).
Moreover, Section 14 (3) of the Constitution emphasizes the importance of federal character in government appointments, ensuring representation from various states and ethnic groups. This principle aims to promote national unity and loyalty.
In light of these constitutional and legal provisions, the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) War Room conducted an investigation into Governor Makinde’s claim.
The findings reveal a significant discrepancy between the governor’s statement and the facts on ground.
Contrary to Governor Makinde’s assertion, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the INEC REC for Ondo State, is not from Ondo State. The CDD War Room’s investigation confirmed that Mrs. Babalola hails from Ekiti State, not Ondo State as alleged. This fact directly contradicts the core of Governor Makinde’s claim and the basis for his call for her removal.
Further research uncovered that Mrs. Babalola’s appointment followed due process.
She was screened by the Senate alongside nine other candidates in November 2023 and subsequently confirmed by the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly.
Her swearing-in ceremony took place in December 2023, marking the official commencement of her tenure as Ondo State’s REC.
Prior to her appointment as REC, Mrs. Babalola had a distinguished career within INEC, serving as the Director of Legal Services at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
This background not only highlights her qualifications for the role but also underscores her familiarity with the electoral process and INEC’s operations.
It is worth noting that while it is INEC’s policy not to deploy RECs to their states of origin, this practice is not enshrined in the constitution. Rather, it is an internal policy aimed at ensuring impartiality and preventing potential conflicts of interest in the electoral process.
The CDD War Room’s fact-check conclusively determines that Governor Makinde’s claim about Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola’s origin is false. The Ondo State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner is from Ekiti State, not Ondo State as alleged by the governor.
