Ahead of the November 16 Ondo state governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Tuesday said it will convene an emergency meeting to address the growing controversy surrounding Ondo State?s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oluwatoyin Babalola.

INEC Acting Director of Security, Ndidi Okafor, revealed this when some protesters under the auspices of Ondo Youth League, Action for Credible and Transparent Election storm the commission?s headquarters in Abuja.

The protesters, led by Ayodeji Adeyemi, said they were at the commission?s office to demand response to the petition they submitted on Monday, demanding the redeployment of Babalola.

Okafor while responding to the demonstrators who insisted that they won?t leave the commission?s premises until they get a definite answer, noted that the management of the umpire would meet to consider the request and take a position.

The INEC official appealed to the protesters to give the commission sometime, urging voters to come out en masse and exercise their constitutional rights on November 16.

?We want to tell the good people of Ondo state that their vote is their right and that they need to speak on Election Day peacefully with their Permanent Voter Cards,? Okafor said.

?They must not fail to vote. The commission is not a one man commission, and they have processes and procedures as they will have to meet.

?That?s what I just told you earlier. They will meet, take a look at your request, consider it, and then you can get a reply. It?s not going to be magical, but our message is that the good people of Ondo State are enlightened people. We love them. Let them get ready to exercise their franchise, and on election day, let them speak with their PVCs.

?Your petition was acknowledged for consideration, and I?ve just explained that the processes involved that the commission will meet. This is because it?s not one person that will give you a reply. It is the commission.

?So would you kindly give the commission a chance while you as young people, because the future belongs to you, go back to mobilize the good people of Ondo State to participate and express their democratic right because their vote their PVC is their votes, and they need to speak and speak, peacefully.?

Unsatisfied with the response, Adeyemi stated that the protesters would continue their demonstration until their requests are met.

He Insisted that Babalola?s alleged fraternity with the ruling All Progressive Congress in Ondo state is an impediment and a threat to democracy and won?t guarantee a free and fair poll.

?Our people will want to know if we are conducting an election under the banner flown by INEC that is deemed to be credible, free and transparent, or they are going to gamble and take their chances against a banner flown by INEC that is seen as bias,? he said.

?We need to get our response so that we can all go back to continue preparing for the exercise our civil responsibilities on the day of election, which is just a little over two weeks away.? (The Guardian)

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