Ekiti: Welcome new INEC boss but…
By Yemi Adaramodu
Sunday, January 27, 2008

We welcome Mrs. Ade Adebayo, the new Resident Electoral Commissioner to Ekiti State. After the exit of Dr. Gabriel Okafor, we had hoped that our air would no longer be fouled by intransigence and obtuse conduct of Ekiti INEC. We are still curious when it was revealed that Mrs. Ade Adebayo, a septuagenarian widow from Ogun State would replace Dr. Okafor, our traducer. Our travails from the untenderly hands of Ogun overlords since the advent of the current democratic order, made her coming a mixed grill for us.

Worse still is the affinity between Mrs. Adebayo and former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. We have it on good authority that Mrs. Adebayo's late husband was an inseparable friend and confidant of the former President, who allegedly also at a time made the widow's son-Wole Adebayo - a Presidential aide.

Her coming from the stable of those who imposed the most unnecessary emergency rule on Ekiti with another Ogun indigene as the emergency lord of the Manor is what is raising this well placed apprehension.
Our present political travails had its roots from the installation of a regime of impostors through the dastardliest rigged elections. Therefore, it would be regrettable if the conduct of Mrs. Adebayo reveals that she has an assignment to carry out for our people's annihilators.

We do not know Mrs. Adebayo's competence in electoral matters especially since Ekiti State INEC office is her first such assignment. Given the controversy that has surrounded the previous occupant of the body, however, and knowing the role the former president played in the various electoral malfeasances in the country, particularly the South West, we expect someone of unimpeachable integrity and character to be the replacement for Dr Okafor.

The Action Congress does not believe that such an important assignment could pass as a mere compensation for selfish patronages. Consequently, our demand is that INEC replaces Mrs. Adebayo with someone who is above board and not in any way tarred by the brush of dangerous liaisons with the PDP. In the event that this is not done, Mrs. Adebayo should be advised that we are watching her every move and expect she would be able to separate Ekiti INEC from the Siamese alliance with the PDP.