By Ayodele Oni
Low voters turnout coupled with the omission of the logo of one of the political parties which participated in Saturday’s Local Government Election in Ondo State are some of the hitches which characterized the election.
Members of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNDP) who came out to participate in the election were stunned that the party’s logo was conspicously missing on the ballot paper.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, participated in the election, and described it as a step towards enhancing grassroots development.
The Governor reiterated the commitment of his administration to the effective running of the local government system in the state in line with the provisions of the law.
Governor Aiyedatiwa cast his vote at Polling Unit 5, Ugbo Ward 4, in Ilaje Local Government Area, commending the electoral process.
Speaking with journalists after casting his ballot, the Governor commended the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) for the seamless conduct of the poll.
Governor Aiyedatiwa also thanked the people of the State for participating in the election.
Aiyedatiwa described the withdrawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the local government election in the state as an act of “cowardness.”
He said “I just cast my vote without any crisis. This is just what happened in the Nov. 16 election, which was adjuged to be free and fair.
“The materials arrived early, and the security and the citizens are here they are participating, and at the end of the day, just as we have in the last election, we don’t expect anything else.
“For the PDP to pull out, that is cowardly. They participated in the whole process, the ODIEC released the timetable for the election, I don’t know the reason for that.
“Maybe the fear of losing, every election has its own logistics and other political parties are participating whatever reason that made them withdraw, I am not privy to that.”
The deputy governor, Olayide Adelami, also voted at his Unit 16 Igboroko 2, Ward 3 in Owo local government area at about 9:45am, Adelami expressed satisfaction at the turn out of voters and urged others still at home to come out to perform their civic duties.
“It is important to vote in this election to enable us deepen delivery of good governance at the grassroots level because it is the tier of government that is most close to the people”
The deputy governor commended the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), security agencies and stakeholders for a peaceful conduct.
Candidates of the New Nigerian People’s Party, (NNPP), called for the cancellation of the polls due to total omission of the party’s logo in the ballot paper used for the polls.
The NNPP Chairmanship Candidate in Ondo West local government, Adebayo Olumide Oluwemimo who was at his polling unit 009, ward 8, said that the party’s logo could not be found on the ballot paper, instead old logo was used by the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, (ODIEC).
Also the Vice Chairmanship Candidate of the NNPP in Ondo West local government, Akinnagbe Akinola Johnson, who spoke at polling unit 26, Ward 7, confirmed the omission of the party’s official logo by ODIEC in the ballot paper.They called for the cancellation of the election.
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