The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo state, Oluwatoyin Babalola, has denied associating with politicians ahead of the governorship election.
This came after some youths stormed office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akure, the state capital, to demand his removal.
The youths who wielded placards with different inscriptions also accused the REC of ‘fraternizing’ with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the November 16 poll.
But speaking to Daily Trust, Babalola said she is not a card-carrying member of any political party .
She explained that she had not been holding any secret meeting with any politician in the state ahead of the poll, saying she remained unbiased.
While describing the allegation against her as baseless, Babalola said she had been operating an open door policy since her appointment as REC.
“It is not true, I didn’t hold any clandestine meeting with the governor (Aiyedatiwa) or any member of any political party.”
“In INEC, we relate with all political parties, and I have also been operating open door policies to all, and I don’t have any preferred candidate for the election as they claimed.
“I am not a member of any political party. So, in this election, INEC will ensure every vote counts, and I promise there won’t be any room for bias. This coming election will be free, fair, and credible,” she told our correspondent on the phone.