The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked claims by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Toyin Babalola, is from the Sunshine State.

Makinde had at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rally in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, called for Babalola’s removal as INEC REC, saying the electoral umpire’s official is from the state.

Makinde said the PDP had no confidence in Babalola to deliver a credible election.

Governor Makinde said the call for Babalola’s removal was to safeguard electoral integrity, and ensure fairness and level playing ground for all parties in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo.

He said: “The last governorship election in Edo State was a fraud and we don’t want that in Ondo State.

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“The current REC is from Ondo State; we don’t want her to conduct this election otherwise we will continue to protest. We will not condole injustice.”

INEC, however, debunked the governor’s claims in a statement on Tuesday, noting that Babalola is not from Ondo State.

It stated: “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.”

The Star