LG Election Set To Hold In Ondo As Electoral Body, IPAC Resolve Differences

By Ayodele Oni

After an initial hookup occasioned by threat of boycott by political parties, Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has announced Saturday, 18th January, as the new date for Local Government elections in the state.

Addressing stakeholders from across political parties in the state, on Thursday, ODIEC chairman, Dr. Joseph Aremo said the commission is ready to conduct a free and fair election.

The commission had postponed indefinitely the elections for the 18 council areas and 33 Local Council Development Areas, (LCDAs) which were earlier rescheduled to take place on July 13 this year.

According to Dr. Aremo, the election was never canceled but rescheduled due to the non-compliance of political parties with the electoral guidelines and processes.

He, however, frowned at instances in the past when parties failed to comply with the directives thus urging all stakeholders to do the needful on time.

Aremo noted that the Constitution places so much premium on election and that it is unfortunate that parties failed in allowing democracy to thrive at the grassroots.

He said the last election was postponed indefinitely and that the essence of the stakeholders meeting is to reconvene and allow the process to continue as sovereignty belongs to the people.

While assuring all stakeholders that the election will be free, fair and transparent, Dr. Aremo charged parties to cooperate with the commission towards completing the assignment before it.

Standing on the existing notice earlier issued, Dr. Aremo announced the new election date which is now Saturday, 18th January, 2025.

Going by the rescheduled timetable, capacity building for selected key electoral officers will hold on Tuesday, 24th to Wednesday, 25th September, 2024 while Sensitization Workshop for Political parties and key Election Stakeholders will commence on Tuesday, 17th to Wednesday, 18th

September, 2024.

Other key highlight include commencement of Campaign by Political starting Monday, 23rd December, 2024 to Thursday 16th January, 2025 and Publication of Notice of Poll on Monday 30th December, 2024 among others.

Speaking with newsmen, the State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, (IPAC), Mr. Olaoluwa Adesanya, expressed satisfaction with the ODIEC chairman’s presentation on the preparedness of the commission for the elections.

He gave an assurance that IPAC would participate in the election.