With just 24 hours until the local government elections in Ondo State, 34 candidates are set to contest the 18 chairmanship seats, while 273 aspirants will vie for councillorship positions across 203 wards.
The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has confirmed that 13 political parties are participating in the election, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and others. However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has withdrawn at the last minute, citing a lack of confidence in the electoral process.
Breakdown of Participation
Chairmanship Candidates:
APC: 18 (all seats)
LP: 4
ZLP: 3
Others, including AA, APP, and SDP, share the remaining slots.
Councillorship Candidates:
APC: 203 (all wards)
LP: 14
PDP: 119 (withdrawn)
SDP: 20
The PDP announced its decision to pull out of the elections, accusing ODIEC of lacking transparency and impartiality. PDP had initially fielded 15 chairmanship and 131 councillorship candidates before withdrawing.
In response, ODIEC Chairman Dr. Joseph Aremo stated that the withdrawal would not affect the elections, emphasizing the Commission’s commitment to ensuring a credible and peaceful process.
Election Preparations
Sensitive materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, have been distributed to all local government areas. Security agencies are also collaborating with ODIEC to maintain order during the elections.
Implications of PDP’s Exit
With the PDP out of the race, analysts predict a higher likelihood of the APC dominating the polls, particularly in PDP strongholds like Ese-Odo. Smaller parties, including LP, ZLP, and SDP, are ramping up efforts to challenge APC’s dominance through house-to-house campaigns and grassroots mobilization.
Despite the challenges, ODIEC assures voters of a smooth and credible election process, reiterating its commitment to deepening democracy at the grassroots lev
