The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has insisted on its call for the removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, over her indigeneship.

The party, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission’s failure to mention her state of origin in its rebuttal already cast doubt on the integrity of the election.

The INEC, however, said since the calls were not backed by any credible evidence of unethical or criminal acts against the REC in question, she would not be redeployed.

Making reference to its background checks, the PDP said the INEC failed to do a diligent check on Babalola to know that the Ondo REC grew up in the state with her parents residing in Akure, the state capital.

Even if not an indigene by birth, the PDP stressed that Babalola particularly qualified as an Ondo indigene, having lived in the state for over 10 years.

In the letter addressed to the INEC chairman, signed by the state Secretary of the PDP, Mr Oluseye Olujimi, the opposition party said redeployment of the REC was urgently needed to restore public confidence in the commission’s integrity to deliver a credible Ondo governorship election.

The PDP stressed that Babalola was not qualified to be an umpire in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, “because she has been residing in Ondo State for more than three decades now, even up till this moment, with her parents and siblings at House Number 3, Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area of Akure Town.”

The PDP has repeatedly called for the removal of Babalola over alleged fraternity with leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the state, a call resonated by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State during last week’s governorship campaign in the state.

The letter read in part, “ For the umpteenth time, we are calling on you, to as a matter of urgency, replace the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Toyin Babalola, appointed and posted to Ondo State by the INEC under your authority, with a non-partisan official with no previous association with Ondo State.

“We also counsel that you view this request with the seriousness and urgency it deserves for the preservation of our nation’s very fragile democracy and the restoration of Public confidence in your Commission’s integrity.

“It has become expedient, that you act positively on the content of this letter, following a statement credited to your commission on Tuesday, 15 October, 2024, in direct reaction to the call by the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, that the Ondo REC should be replaced. Governor Seyi Makinde’s warning that the PDP will continue to protest until its request is met, should not be taken as an empty threat.

“Moreso, since it is on record that the governor’s call of Tuesday was not the first time the party had made such a request. Our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had earlier mentioned to you in a previous letter to your office, that the Ondo State Commissioner, Mrs Toyin Babalola is not morally and reasonably fit to supervise the gubernatorial election fixed for November 16.

“Quite unfortunately, however, a statement credited to you on Tuesday, said the REC would not be removed because she is not from the state, even though you refused to mention her state of origin.

“A diligent check on the background of the REC would have revealed to you that, not only did she grow up in Ondo State, but that she currently also lives in her parents’ house which is No. 3, Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area, Akure town, the state capital.

“Even if she were not of Ondo State origin by birth, the constitution of Nigeria makes it quite clear, that anyone who has lived in a particular place for 10 years, statutorily qualifies for recognition as an indigene. Chairman Sir, it is obvious that your office did not do a diligent check before issuing that unfortunate statement.

“That unfortunate omission on your part sadly gives the impression that INEC cares less, should the issue of the REC’s residency status and dubious integrity result in avoidable controversies and/or crises, that may fall out from any unwitting act of replicating in the upcoming Ondo State election, the controversial APC template so ignominiously used in the recent Edo State gubernatorial election, the dust from which is yet to settle.”

Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said INEC has an established policy for deploying and redeploying RECs.

Oyekanmi stressed that the decisions were not influenced by political parties or partisan individuals, unless “there’s credible evidence of unethical or criminal conduct.”

He stated that the Ondo REC would not be redeployed based on recent calls and urged the PDP to collaborate with INEC to ensure a free and fair election in the state on November 16.

The CPS stated, “The Independent National Electoral Commission deploys and redeploys Resident Electoral Commissioners based on its established policy, not on calls by political parties or partisan individuals, especially if such calls are not backed by any credible evidence of unethical or criminal act against the REC in question.

“To that extent, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ondo State will not be redeployed.

“We appeal to the PDP to join hands with the commission in its effort to conduct a free and fair election in the state on November 16.”

The 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have resolved to fight against their exclusion from legislative activities to the end.

Their leader, Speaker Martins Amaewhule, said despite their challenges, the lawmakers would not give up their quest for the rule of law.

He spoke at a reception organised in their honour in Port-Harcourt, the state capital, by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said crisis would persist in the state because of the unhealthy relationship between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the aggrieved lawmakers.

Amaewhule expressed gratitude to Wike for his guidance and support, assuring him that the Assembly would remain steadfast in making laws that would enhance the wellbeing of the people of Rivers.

He said: “We are grateful for the unwavering support and mentorship of the Honourable Minister, who remains a beacon of leadership.”

Amaewhule also lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his fatherly roles  and assured him that the lawmakers would continue to walk on the path of peace and the rule of law.

At the ceremony,  former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), OCJ Okocha, faulted the position of Governor Siminalayi Fubara on legal matters.

Okocha described himself as an authentic legal luminary, saying he was called to the Bar 46 years ago,  became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria 29 years ago, and  served the state and the nation in several professional capacities.

He said: “My career stands as a testament to my unwavering dedication to the rule of law” he said  assuring members of the Assembly that the law was on their side.

Okocha: why crisis will persist in Rivers

Okocha, maintained that crisis has persisted in the state due to the feud between Fubara and the 27 lawmakers.

Reflecting on the Federal High Court’s dismissal of the suit seeking to replace the pro-Wike 27 lawmakers, Okocha said they were not members of the APC.

He said there was no proof of their registration as APC members at the ward level.

Okocha added: “They didn’t join us. I wooed them and did much more to get them to join us, I begged them, but they didn’t join us. I am saying this as chairman APC Rivers caretaker committee, clearly and without missing words, they didn’t join us. Let anyone saying they joined us show proof. The law is not about emotion but concrete facts.”

Okocha also attributed the crisis to the struggle for political structures by political big wigs in the state.

He said while former governor Wike worked to unite the state, he handed over to a successor who has divided the state.

Okocha said: “Unfortunately for him, he introduced to the political scene, somebody he felt was a confidant, who is, today, the state governor. He was not a politician.

“He was a civil servant all his life and Wike catapulted him from Deputy Director to Director, Finance and Administration, and directed that he be posted to the Government House.

“He was later made Chief of Staff and was promoted few months after to Permanent Secretary, Government House, in charge of finance and was later made the Accountant-General.

“Fubara was never in politics. He was just a routine civil servant, but for whatever it is worth, Wike felt he should hand over to a confidant as is normal with Nigerian politicians.”

Okocha recalled that Wike was able to sell Fubara to Rivers people and spoke for him all through the campaigns, apparently because he didn’t know what to say before he was elected.

He said Fubara had never been a councillor or local government chairman.

Okocha added: “His first stint in politics was the highest office in the state because Wike was there for him.”

The chairman said that ahead of his election, Fubura feigned loyalty and humility, and submitted himself to Wike, which turned out to be a decoy at the end of the day.

He said three months after assuming office as governor, Fubara was convinced by some politicians opposed to Wike to build his own political structures out of their selfish reasons.

Okocha said: “What sustains every politician in the field is a potent structure and Wike could not sit and watch his political structures, which raised Fubara and some members of the state Assembly, destroyed.

“Fubara constituted a clog in the wheel of  Wike’s political structures and was dismantling it, which Wike couldn’t take. The reason we are having Rivers in the news for bad things is because the governor is fighting himself.”

Okocha said Fubara is the chief law officer of the state and and also “the chief law breaker,” who chooses the order to obey and the one not to obey.

“He added: “When you do that, it is an invitation to anarchy; he is the one that brought ant-infested firewood to his house, and now lizards are feasting.”

Okocha said Rivers APC would not relent in criticising Fubara because that is the responsibility of an opposition party.

He said: “Our position as a vibrant opposition in Rivers is, first and foremost, to speak for the voiceless in the society via constructive criticisms and point out grey areas to the state government.

“By so doing, we are demarketing Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We are not expected to be applauding the PDP government in Rivers. Doing that means we won’t be able to win future elections in the state.

“Our business is to constructively criticise the government and that is what is giving us an edge; otherwise, we inherited an APC that was not a party but a social club.”

Okocha lamented that former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who was  the APC leader in Rivers, customised and colonised the party.

He said APC’s desire was the weakening of the ruling party in Rivers and other opposition parties in order to have a smooth sail in the 2027 general election.

Okocha stressed: “We can’t allow them to be strong; we will not close our eyes and watch them become united so that they will come again with their forces, like the Labour Party did with Peter Obi, its presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election.”

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje and governors elected on the party’s platform have appealed to aggrieved members of the Ondo State chapter to work for the success of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in next month’s governorship election.

Among the aggrieved members were governorship aspirants who contested the APC primary against the governor. Ganduje said victory at the polls was a task for all party members.

He appealed to them to work together to achieve victory. He said: “Our mission is to give you assurance that our party is solidly behind you; that the party at the national level is behind you. We are here to give you hope, to encourage you, to make you feel that this election is a task that must be done.

“We are so encouraged that there is unity in this party, especially when you invited all aspirants, there is no victor no vanquish in the primary. This is a win-win situation. This is a big achievement.

“I’m expecting 90 per cent victory in this election. Make sure that you know those who are supposed to vote in your units. You must be involved in the house-to-house campaign. We are strategizing, we must have 100 per cent states of the Southwest, beginning from Ondo State.”

Lagos State Governor and Coordinator of the APC in the Southwest, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu called for unity among members. He said: “The Southwest APC leaders meeting, which took place today was successful and we are happy. We are here to thank you. All of you are critical to the election of November 16.

“The future is bright for Ondo State. We must agree. We can’t get any leadership support other than this. For me, it is to congratulate all of us. I am happy for the turnout. If we come together, we will win. We beg all of you to support our candidate. We must get more than 85 per cent of the votes.”