Coalition of All Civil Society organization in Ondo State.
Election: CSO calls For Protection of Ondo REC.
By Admin, 7th November, 2024.
The coalition of all civil society organization in Ondo State has called on the commissioner of Police Abayomi Oladipupo in the state and other security Agencies to protect the Resident Electoral Commissioner Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola from humiliation from the hands of the Politicians and other political protesters who carried out various protests against her removal or redeployment from conducting the Governorship election slated for 16th November,2024 in the state.Because of the conception that she would be biased in carried out her constitutional duties during the elections , more so that she is an indigene of Ondo state.
Addressing the Press men at the International Cultural and Event Centre -The DOME, in Akure, today, the Chairman of the CSO, Mr Oloniju Franklin and other leader Mrs Florence Ajih said there was no offense committed by the woman that would warrant people sponsoring protest for her removal as the state resident electoral commissioner . The chairman said , the called for her protection was necessary because the woman had all what it takes as a woman to conduct the election come November 16th, 2024.
According to them, removing her from performing her duties would be seen as victimisation and gender discrimination as the woman didn’t committed any political crime. They said the woman would do her duties diligently just like any other man shalduled with such responsibilities to perform as a resident electoral commissioner in any state. The chairman said the whole members of the CSO in the state are solidly behind her and that they have confidence in her integrity and ability to deliver free, fair and credible election to the good people of the state.
I am A Lawyer, I don’t Act On Speculation-Ebiseni
By Olusegun HOSEA, 7th November, 2024.
The Candidate of the Labour Party, Sola Ebiseni, has said that the roles of Independent Electoral Commission INEC is very important in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo. Stated this today in an interview granted with Journalists at the stakeholders meeting organized by Independent Electoral Commission INEC under the chairman of the commission Prof.Yakubu Mahmood ,held at the International Cultural and Event Centre -The DOME in Akure, Ebiseni said the faith of any Nations is determined by its leadership and that INEC is giving the power of leadership of recruitment during elections.
According to him, he explained that we must able to live up to the expectation of the people. He said they have good meetings with them but the most important things was for them to have free, fair and credible elections.
In another development, when asked if he has confidence in INEC? his response was that ” what choice do I have, it’s a monopoly . Is the only body that is made by the constitution and the Electoral Act to conduct elections, so that is why we must all support the INEC and the later must also live to its expectations ” Sola Ebiseni, who was of the opinion that he didn’t have other alternative as the INEC is the only body saddled with the responsibilities of conducting elections in the country as permitted by the Laws and that it’s was all commerce affairs and that all of them must ensure that elections is delivered fairly and creditably.
When asked about the counter call for replacement of the REC in the state,? Ebiseni has this to say ” Oh well, let me say that first, I am a lawyer, I do not act on speculation and the lady who is a REC here. To the best of my knowledge I have not seen what she has done that would warrant her removal because those who said she should be removed has not give them any reasons whatsoever why she should be removed. He said they are just playing to the gallery “. He said the only reason given by them was that she is from Ondo State.
According to him, he said their research about her shows that the woman is from Ekiti state not even from Ondo .Therefore, there is no need putting the lady on the spots as far as the Labour Party is concerned. He said they have no problem at all with the residents of electoral commissioner in the state. He explained that people should allowed her to deliver on the mandate of the Law with respect to her office. He re-emphasized that his party have no problem with REC at all and that they are not part of the people calling for her removal in the state.
