Agboola Ajayi, the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, has voiced concerns over the integrity of the upcoming election, scheduled for Saturday.

In an interview with The Punch on Sunday, Ajayi expressed unease with Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), whom he claims is partisan due to her association with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ajayi claimed he discovered that Babalola had been holding a series of meetings with Lucky Aiyetiwada, the Ondo State Governor who is also his rival in the election, and the APC after an organisation brought it to his notice.

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“The government has ample resources and ways of gathering information. If they want to be honest, they know that what we are saying is true. We felt that this woman is partisan, so she can never be fair. We know she was born and brought up here; she is an Ondo State indigene. I don’t know how else they want us to prove that,” Ajayi said.

Ajayi further stated that his party had appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Babalola, arguing that her ties to the APC may lead to impartiality, but INEC has yet to act on this request.

“She must be changed. We won’t keep quiet, and if they make any attempt to allow her to conduct the election, the people of the state will not take it lightly with INEC. I want to appeal to INEC not to allow a repeat of what happened in 1983,” Ajayi cautioned.

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“They cannot continue to do this, as it has already created suspicion. For the credibility of this process, they should replace her with someone who is not from this area. If they bring anyone from anywhere outside this state, we are fine, but they should allow a level playing ground.

“For a candidate to say they want to use the template used in Edo — what a shameful example! Everybody condemned the election in Edo State, but they are saying they want to use the Edo State template, and INEC could not come out to say, ‘No, you are on your own. We are going to conduct a free and fair election’. The days are numbered, and we are here watching the process.”

When asked what measures he had put in place to curb potential rigging against his party, Ajayi was tight-lipped.

The PDP candidate only stated that his strategies were confidential and that he was confident in his victory.

“We have won already. Don’t worry yourself. Is it not the Saturday, November 16 election? Have you seen an incumbent governor panicking like this before?” Ajayi asked.

Ajayi was the deputy governor of Ondo from 2017 to 2021. He served along with former governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

Once a member of the APC, Ajayi fell out with Akeredolu and defected to the PDP.