- urges INEC to dismiss calls.
The spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Ondo State, Hon. Bar. Banji Okunomo has called on the opposition Peoples´ Democratic Party (PDP) to stop making clandestine moves that could heat up the polity.
Reacting to the latest call for the redeployment of Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Toyin Bbabalola by a pressure group named Credible and Transparent Election, Okunomo said it is obvious that the PDP was the mastermind behind the call.
He observed that the call for Babalola´s redeployment began when Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State raised a false alarm about the REC´s state of origin during one of PDP´s rallies in Ondo State.
Okunomo noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had since cleared the air on the REC´s state of origin saying the electoral umpire is a juridical body which must have verified claims before deploying Babalola to Ondo State.
He observed that the PDP is jittery and desperate because of its imminent defeat in the fast-approaching governorship election calling on Civil Society Organisations (CSO) to avoid being used for dirty jobs by the PDP.
According to Okunomo: “The recent call for the redeployment of Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Toyin Babalola, by one pressure group called Credible and Transparent Election is preposterous and capable of heating up the polity.
“It is clear, from all indications that the PDP is desperate and jittery. Otherwise, they would not be hiding under a Civil organization to call for the redeployment of Babalola when the issue had already been addressed by her employer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking further, Okunomo said: “INEC is Mrs Babalola´s employer. It is in possession of her resume´. So, if the electoral body had come out to say that she is not an indigene of Ondo State, is the PDP claiming to know more than INEC?
“Moreover, the PDP is also claiming that the REC should be redeployed because she once resided in Ondo State. There is no law that prevents a citizen of Nigeria from residing in any part of the country. Redeploying Babalola because she once lived in Ondo State amounts to a violation of her fundamental human right”, Okunomo said.
He berated the PDP for being the only political party making baseless comments about the REC saying other political parties as well as the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in the State have all passed a vote of confidence on the REC.
“It is unfortunate that the PDP is at the centre of the calls for Mrs Babalola´s redeployment. This is in spite of the fact that the party (PDP) has not been able to provide any proof to show that the REC is, indeed, from Ondo State. It is sad that they think that they can successfully distract serious-minded people from important things by making unsubstantiated claims.
“It is not a surprise that the PDP came up with this ridiculous claim again. From their failed political rallies aggravated by abysmal performance of the party flagbearer in the recently held debate, it is obvious that the PDP´s struggles are those of a sinking boat.
“If there is anything that became more apparent during the governorship debate, it is the fact that the PDP candidate was bereft of developmental ideas that could position him as a better alternative to the APC governorship candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa just as he wasted the time allotted him for attacks on the Government of Ondo State under Governor Lucky”, Okunomo said.
He described the APC governorship candidate and incumbent governor of Ondo State as a popular choice whose productive governance in the last ten months has endeared him to the hearts of Ondo electorate.
While calling on the PDP to desist from activities that could hold the state to ransom, Okunomo thus called on Civil Society Organisations never to be enticed with money or dragged into unnecessary political sentiments.
Okunomo posited that the INEC has continued to assure all participating political parties in the election of its neutrality calling on the PDP to allow the electoral umpire to discharge its duties without being ambushed.
