Daud Olatunji
The Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, has suspended the Electoral Officer of Akure North Local Government Area, Mrs Mobolade Akole, over her alleged absence from duty during an unscheduled monitoring visit to the commission’s office.
Agboke also appointed an administrative officer, Mr Bisi Farunkanmi, as the acting Electoral Officer to prevent a leadership vacuum and ensure uninterrupted administrative operations in the local government.
The development followed an unscheduled inspection of INEC offices in Akure North and Akure South by the REC as the commission intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections and continues the nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards.
During the visit to Akure North, Agboke reportedly expressed displeasure over the absence of Akole and the Assistant Electoral Officers from their duty posts at the time of his arrival.
He described their absence as irresponsible and a serious breach of official responsibility, warning that the commission would not condone indiscipline, particularly at a critical period when preparations for the forthcoming general elections were gathering momentum.
Consequently, the REC announced Akole’s suspension as a disciplinary measure and immediately appointed Farunkanmi as her replacement in an acting capacity.
The commission said the appointment was necessary to ensure that administrative activities continued without disruption.
However, the situation was different at the Akure South Local Government Area office, where the REC and his team met all the staff actively performing their official duties.
Agboke also inspected the office store and expressed satisfaction with the level of organisation and orderliness observed at the facility.
Speaking with journalists after the inspection, the REC described Akure South as the premier local government area in Ondo State, citing its strategic importance, population size and status as the state capital.
He reaffirmed INEC’s readiness for the 2027 general elections, disclosing that the receipt and distribution of non-sensitive election materials to local government offices had commenced.
According to him, the materials were being transported to the various local government areas for proper batching and other preliminary arrangements ahead of the polls.
He added that additional consignments of non-sensitive materials were expected to arrive in the state in the coming days as the commission continued to strengthen its logistical preparations.
The REC’s monitoring exercise comes amid growing demands for electoral accountability, operational efficiency and institutional discipline as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The commission said the exercise was part of its efforts to strengthen staff commitment, improve service delivery and ensure that its offices remained operationally prepared for the electoral process.
.....
Subscribe To Papers Nigeria HERE
