He said the party took the decision after wide consultations with stakeholders, claiming that the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC, cannot be trusted to conduct a free and fair election.

According to him, recent observations and reports point to a troubling pattern of double standards by ODIEC, raising serious doubts about their ability to conduct a free, fair, and credible election.

Read Also: OSSIEC is ready for the 2025 Local Government Election – Odeyemi

Igbabo said the party cannot, in good conscience, confer legitimacy on a compromised process by participating in the election, adding that the withdrawal is in line with their stance on integrity.

To Igbabo, the PDP is committed to sanitising the electoral process in the state.

Earlier, the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission screened 13 political parties, including the PDP, to participate in the council polls.

But the PDP’s withdrawal leaves 12 parties in the race.

The post PDP Withdraws From Ondo Local Government Polls appeared first on Afinju FM.

ODIEC Chairman,  Joseph Aremo, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the commission’s headquarters in Akure, the state capital.

The election, which was to be conducted on December 16, 2023, was postponed to February 17, and later postponed to July 13 and finally postponed indefinitely before the announcement of the new date.

He said election was never cancelled but rescheduled due to non-compliance of political parties with the electoral guidelines and processes.

Aremo, who assured residents of the commission’s readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible election, stated that the exercise would be transparent.

He urged political parties that had conducted primaries before the postponement to forward the validated list of candidates to the commission.

The completion of political parties primaries and validation of candidates will take place from November 25 to December 7.

Speaking further, he said that the distribution of non-sensitive materials to the 18 local governments would take place from January 6, 2025 to January 10, 2025.

Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Olaoluwa Adesanya, expressed satisfaction with the ODIEC chairman’s presentation on the preparedness of the commission for the elections.

Adesanya assured the commission and residents of IPAC’s participation in the election

The post Ondo shifts LG election to January 18 appeared first on Afinju FM.