By Julius Alabi, Akure
Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, (ODIEC) has postponed the local government election to July 13, 2024.
The election was earlier scheduled to hold on February 17, 2024 before it was shifted.
The commission said the decision to shift the date was to ensure that the election reflects the aspirations of the electorate.
The ODIEC Chairman, Joseph Aremo while addressing newsmen and representatives of participating political parties and other stakeholders in Akure, the stTe capital today stated that the election billed for Saturday, 17th February, 2024 had to be postponed in tune with the provisions of extant laws from where the election guidelines get footing.
Accordingto him, we can’t conduct the election for ourselves, we will only conduct the election when parties comply with the guidelines, when we have valid nominations, when parties and their candidates turn up for verification and others, things that are required as may be specified by our guideline and the enabling laws.”
Aremo further stressed that some of the provisions of the election guidelines have not been heeded and as a result the election had to be postponed.
His word: “Therefore the commission having met and appraised this situation, came up with this decision, that the election is further rescheduled as contained in the activity for the conduct of election to the 18LGAs and 33 LCDAs of Ondo State and that the new election date is for the election into the office of Chairmanship and Councilorship to be fixed and to be conducted on Saturday, 13th of July, 2024.”
“With the new adjustment to the election time table, political parties now have between Monday, 13th May, to Monday 3rd June, 2024 to conduct their primary elections.
“Submission of forms and list of candidates will close on Tuesday, 1st June, 2024, followed by campaigns on Wednesday, 5th June, 2024, which would close on midnight of Thursday 11th July, 2024.
He therefore assured of readiness of the commission to conduct free, fair and credible elections for the people of Ondo State.
