A coalition of civil society organisations in Ondo State has called on the Inspector- General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to provide adequate security for the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Oluwatoyin Babalola, ahead of the November 16 governorship election. 

Recall that the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party and some youths group demanded Mrs Babalola redeployment from the state, citing her alleged “fraternising” with the members of the state All Progressives Congress.

The opposition party protested and claimed that the REC had been a resident in the state for several years, questioning her integrity to oversee the exercise. 

Speaking on the issue, the coalition said it was worried about the protests against Mrs Babalola by some politicians in the state demanding her redeployment to heat up the polity and also create uncertainty.

Addressing journalists on Thursday in Akure, the Chairman of the Coalition, Franklin Oloniju, said that the protests against Mrs Babalola were deliberately being orchestrated to pre-empt the outcome of the election.

Mr Oloniju, flanked by other members of the group, said the repeated calls for the redeployment of the REC was also aimed at disrupting the peaceful political atmosphere and instigating election violence during and after the exercise. 

He said, “We call on the police to take extra measures to protect the woman REC and the entire state from the evil machinations of these unscrupulous elements.’’. 

Mr Oloniju also alleged that the REC was being persecuted by leaders of some of the political parties because of her gender. 

According to him, the call for Mrs Babalola’s redeployment became more worrisome, especially when her state of origin had never been in doubt in the past. 

He stated that it was shameful that political actors intending to create chaos and tension in the state were attempting to use negative and false narrative to achieve their devilish intentions.

He added, “The CSOs in Ondo State stand firmly against any attempts to intimidate the Resident Electoral Commissioner REC because of her gender. These same political parties participated in the Edo State governorship election and never questioned or campaigned against a REC accused of being a member of a political party and a brother to a well-known politician in the country. They have now found their voice because the REC in Ondo State is a woman. We would like to state categorically that we will resist any gender-based violence and intimidation in the state, as we have always done.