The Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Ekiti State, Mrs. Olusola Adebayo, resurfaced at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja on Wednesday, saying that she was still a member of the commission’s family.
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Sam Adeko

Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Mrs. Ayoka Adebayo (second left), surrounded by members of her family, after meeting with the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu, in Abuja, on Wednesday

Adebayo spoke briefly with journalists after she had met with the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu.

The REC, who had reportedly tendered her resignation letter to President Umaru Yar’Adua and Iwu on Tuesday, refused to say if and when she would return to Ekiti to conclude the announcement of the suspended rerun governorship election results in the state.

The election was held in nine out of 10 Local Government Areas in contention in the state on Saturday.

Adebayo, who arrived at the INEC office at exactly 2.07pm, was accompanied by her children and other relatives.

Some members of the Nigerian Bar Association also laid siege to the INEC office, saying that they had come to observe how she would be treated by the commission.

Our correspondent could not ascertain how many INEC national commissioners were at the meeting, but sources said that Mr. Victor Chukwuani was in attendance.

Dressed in a brown lace material, Adebayo came to the commission in an ash Mercedes Benz with registration number CW 507ABJ.

Before the meeting, which held behind closed doors commenced, Adebayo sat at Iwu’s waiting room till 2.30pm when she was ushered in.

At exactly 2.55pm, a member of staff of INEC from Iwu’s office came to ask one of the sons to join in the discussion with Iwu. The son was later recognised as Wole.

The meeting ended at exactly 3.10pm.

While journalists were waiting anxiously for the woman to emerge from the meeting, Iwu opened his exit door for her with the aim of escaping the prying eyes of journalists.

But as soon as she was spoted by the newsmen, her family members tried to shield her, saying that she did not want to speak to the media.

However, as soon as she descended from the first floor, where Iwu’s office is located, and asked by journalists if her position had changed, she said, “Peace be unto Nigeria; may God bless Nigeria.”

Asked what her position was at the commission, she said she was still a member of INEC.

The following dialogue ensued between her and journalists:

What are you here for madam?

“I am still a member of INEC family.”

In what capacity?

As the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State.

When are you returning to Ekiti State to announce the remaining results?

No comment.

What about your resignation? Does it still stand?

No comment.

Was the resignation letter not from you?

No comment.

Are you withdrawing the letter?

No comment.

Though she did not betray any sign of sickness, Adebayo also refused to speak on her purported illness as claimed by Iwu.

She was later driven away by her children and relatives at exactly 3.13pm.

Though the meeting with Iwu was held behind closed doors, a source close to the meeting told our correspondent that Iwu pleaded with her to rescind her decision to resign.

He was said to have asked her to consider the legal implication of her resigning when the election was yet to be concluded.

According to the source, “The chairman actually begged her, asking that she should not allow Nigerians to further drag the name of the commission in the mud as the public seem not to have confidence in the commission.

“He also asked her to consider the legal implication of her leaving mid-way into the election when she is the only one the law recognises as the returning officer for the election.”

Though she was billed to see the Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, who had said on Tuesday that he would declare her wanted if she refused to show up within 24 hours, it was learnt that Iwu said there was no need again.

The Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, described the reports that Adebayo had re-appeared from her hideout as a cause for celebration.

Akunyili said this while fielding questions from journalists at a news conference after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

“It is a cause for celebration in the whole country because (without her reappearance) people would start blaming themselves and there would be suspicions,” she said.

Although she admitted that she only heard that the REC had re-appeared at INEC headquarters in Abuja just as she emerged from the FEC meeting, Akunyili insisted that only Adebayo could furnish the public with the truth concerning the Ekiti rerun election.

She, however, could not confirm whether the Federal Government would eventually accept her resignation.

“The Federal Government did not accept her resignation yesterday (on Tuesday) and I don’t know what would happen today; these things are dynamic,” Akunyili said.

He also asked her to consider the legal implication of her leaving mid-way into the election when she is the only one the law recognises as the returning officer for the election.

Although she admitted that she only heard that the REC had re-appeared at INEC headquarters in Abuja just as she emerged from the FEC meeting, Akunyili insisted that only Adebayo could furnish the public with the truth concerning the Ekiti rerun election.

fyneguy:

The woman never denied her resignation. She simply gave no comments.

She probably changed her mind on the condition that INEC would give her a freehand and adequate security to round off the electoral process. I wonder why some people were quick to think the woman had compromised her conscience.

If the woman had stood her ground on resignation, I could have called her a coward and did not have the interest of this country at heart.
However, If she decided to finish the task with the aforementioned conditions, then she's principled and the heroine of democracy.

The following conversation took place between Adebayo and the reporters:

Madam, what is happening?
Adebayo: Peace be unto Nigeria, and everyone of us shall be happy in Nigeria , and God bless Nigeria . God bless everyone of us. Thank you.
Did you resign Madam?
Adebayo: (Laughter). No I am still part of INEC. I’m a member of the INEC family.
Was that letter from you?
No answer.
Did you write that resignation letter?
No answer.
Madam that letter did you write it?
Adebayo: I’m still part of INEC family
In what capacity, ma?
Adebayo: As the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State.
When will the election be completed?
Adebayo: No comments.
She was shepherded into Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registration number CW 507 ABJ.

fyneguy:

My dear Kobojunkie

I'm trying so hard not to refer u to commonsense again

The woman was asked if the resignation letter was from her. She said ''No comment''. What do u make of that? If the letter was not from her, do u think she would say ''No comment''?

The most logical thing at the moment is that she was persuaded to stand down her resignation. And if indeed her resignation was borne out of not wanting to compromise her Christian conscience, she must have given conditions for her to finish the task!

Anyway, let's wait for her press conference coming up later in the day.

fyneguy:

My dear Kobojunkie

I'm trying so hard not to refer u to commonsense again

The woman was asked if the resignation letter was from her. She said ''No comment''. What do u make of that? If the letter was not from her, do u think she would say ''No comment''?

The most logical thing at the moment is that she was persuaded to stand down her resignation. And if indeed her resignation was borne out of not wanting to compromise her Christian conscience, she must have given conditions for her to finish the task!

Anyway, let's wait for her press conference coming up later in the day.

She was shepherded into Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registration number CW 507 ABJ.

mikeansy:

The kind of debate we are having here is why Nigeria will never get anywhere soon

This woman was effectively isolated and cowed . . . . . nobody stood by her in the last few days  . . . . . the so called people who want to call themselves opposition stayed out of it instead of at least coming to this woman's defence. (where was Buhari? Atiku's only comments were how the Ekiti crisis relates to 2011 which what only matters to him.)

And on our part we are her coming up with all sorts of speculations on compromise. Its most annoying that we who make all this noise have never contributed anything to the future of Nigeria.

Nigeria will not be great because u can sit in your corner and spew all sorts of nonsense on your computer.

If this woman succeeds in negotiating re-election in a ward where 15,000 votes where added to ballot papers and the office burnt down to destroy evidence . . . . . then I think she has done her part.

Its up to Ekiti and the Nigerian people to demand better atmosphere during the re-run.

Anybody who thinks she has not done well . . . . should tell us what their mother has done so far in Project Nigeria.

enigmatic:

the woman withrew ger resignation letter because of the pressure from various groups that she remains the only person that can announce the result. to me , there is notin bad in that if the woman can come back and save us from spendind another billions to conduct another election , that willstill consume many ekites. i beleive the woman will be just in her pronouncement on the man to be returned as the gov. pls do not criticise her, sha is an heroine to have turned down the pressure from ruling body to announce fake result.