Ondo LG polls: Electoral Commission shifts election date

THE Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has disclosed a new date for the local government election in the State.

The election, scheduled to hold on February 17, 2024, has now been shifted to July 13, 2024.

The ODIEC Chairman, Joseph Aremo earlier on Tuesday pointed out that the postponement is in line with the provisions of extant laws from where the election guidelines get footing.

“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.”

He said some of these provisions of the election guidelines have not been heeded and as a result the election had to be postponed.

The ODIEC boss said the decision is to ensure that the election reflects the aspirations of the electorate.

“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.

According to the commission, 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.

The commission assured of readiness to conduct free, fair and credible elections for the people of Ondo State.