The Independent National Electoral Commission has suspended its Electoral Officer in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mrs Akole Mobolade, indefinitely over alleged incompetence, absence from duty and poor commitment to official responsibilities.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Mutiu Agboke, also ordered Electoral Officers I and III in the local government to step aside with immediate effect over concerns about their performance.
Following the development, an administrative officer, Mr Bisi Farokanmi, was appointed acting Electoral Officer to oversee the commission’s activities in Akure North.
Agboke announced the disciplinary measures while speaking with journalists during an inspection of INEC facilities and election preparations at the state headquarters in Akure and its offices in Akure North and Akure South.
The inspection was aimed at assessing staff performance, monitoring the ongoing collection of Permanent Voter Cards and evaluating the commission’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
During an unscheduled visit to the Akure North office, the REC reportedly expressed displeasure after discovering that the Electoral Officer and some Assistant Electoral Officers were absent from their duty posts. He described their conduct as a breach of official responsibility, warning that such negligence would not be tolerated as preparations for the elections gathered momentum.
However, Agboke expressed satisfaction with the situation at the Akure South office, where he met staff members at their duty posts and commended the level of organisation observed during an inspection of the facility and its store.
The REC reaffirmed INEC’s readiness for the 2027 elections, disclosing that the receipt and distribution of non-sensitive electoral materials to local government offices had commenced.
