Ondo electoral commission postpones LG poll to 2025 over ‘failure of parties to follow guidelines’

The Ondo Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has postponed LGA elections in the state to January 18, 2025.

The election, which was first scheduled for February 17, was rescheduled to July 13 and was afterwards postponed indefinitely.

Joseph Aremo, ODIEC chairman, announced the new date during a stakeholders meeting in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

Aremo said the postponement became imperative as the commission was tired of continuous rescheduling.

He added that the elections were never cancelled but rescheduled due to the ”non-compliance of political parties with the electoral guidelines and processes”.

“Election was never cancelled but rescheduled due to non-compliance of political parties with the electoral guidelines and processes,” NAN quoted Aremo as saying.

“The completion of political parties’ primaries and validation of candidates will take place from Nov. 25 to Dec. 7.

“Dec. 9 will be the last day for the submission of forms for particulars of candidates and the list of candidates by political parties.

“Substitution of candidates by political parties will occur from Dec. 12 to Dec. 13, while the collection and submission of nomination forms will begin from Dec. 16 until Dec. 18.

“Campaigns by political parties will kick off on Dec. 23 and end by midnight of Jan. 16, 2025; distribution of non-sensitive materials to the 18 local governments would take place from Jan. 6, 2025 to Jan. 10, 2025.”

Aremo assured residents of a transparent, free, and fair election, adding that parties who had already conducted primaries should submit their validated candidate lists to the commission.

Olaoluwa Adesanya, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) chairman, praised ODIEC’s election preparedness.