The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, has suspended the Electoral Officer (EO) of Akure North Local Government Area, Mrs Mobolade Akole, over alleged absence from duty during an unscheduled monitoring visit to the council's office.

Agboke also appointed Mr. Bisi Farunkanmi, an Administrative Officer with the Commission, as Acting Electoral Officer to ensure uninterrupted administrative operations in the local government.

The disciplinary action followed an unscheduled monitoring visit by the REC to INEC offices in Akure South and Akure North as part of efforts to strengthen staff discipline, operational efficiency and institutional preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections.

During the visit to Akure North, the REC reportedly expressed displeasure over the absence of the Electoral Officer and Assistant Electoral Officers from their duty posts at the time of his arrival, describing the development as irresponsible and a serious breach of official responsibility.

He stressed that such conduct would not be tolerated, particularly at a critical period when the Commission was intensifying preparations for the 2027 general elections and sustaining the nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Consequently, the REC suspended the Electoral Officer as a disciplinary measure and immediately appointed Farunkanmi to oversee the affairs of the local government office in an acting capacity.

However, the situation was different at the Akure South office, where Agboke and his team met all staff members actively performing their official duties.

The REC also inspected the office store and expressed satisfaction with the level of orderliness and organisation observed.

Speaking with journalists after the exercise, Agboke described Akure South as the premier local government area in Ondo State, considering its strategic importance, population and status as the state capital.

He reaffirmed the Commission'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 offices for proper batching and other necessary preparatory arrangements, while additional consignments were expected in the state in the coming days.

The monitoring exercise, he said, formed part of the Commission's broader efforts to ensure discipline, accountability, effective service delivery and adequate logistical preparedness for credible, transparent and successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.