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Protests against the deployment of the newly
appointed resident electoral commissioner for Ondo State, Ayooka
Adebayo, took new dimensions when an Akure-based legal practitioner
filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Akure to challenge Mrs.
Adebayo’s deployment to the state.

Titiloye Charles, through his counsel, Modupe
Daramola, prayed the court to declare Mrs. Adebayo unfit to be named
the state electoral commissioner. Joined in the suit are Attahiru Jega,
the Chairman of Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the
commission. In the suit, Mr. Charles opposed the declaration of Mrs.
Adebayo as commissioner, stressing that “she is not a fit, proper,
neutral, and independent person to be deployed and appointed as
electoral commissioner in Ondo State to conduct (the) 2011 general
elections.” He prayed the court to declare Mrs. Adebayo as unfit to
hold the sensitive office because of her controversial conduct during,
and after, the elections held last year in Ekiti State.

He sought for a court order directing Mr. Jega and the electoral
body to remove Mrs. Adebayo as electoral commissioner in Ondo State.
The plaintiff also prayed for an order of perpetual injunction
restraining the defendants from conducting any elections in the state
with Mrs. Adebayo serving as commissioner or returning officer. Mr.
Charles recalled that the re-run election supervised by Mrs. Adebayo in
Ekiti State was allegedly marred with irregularities, intimidation of
voters, journalists, and election observers. He said the defendant
failed to take positive steps in ensuring free and fair polls, adding
that bribery allegations were made against officers who served under
her.