The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has set a new date for the local government elections across the state. The polls will now take place on January 18, 2025, covering 18 local government areas and 203 wards.
Dr. Joseph Aremo, Chairman of ODIEC, announced the revised date during a stakeholders' meeting held at the commission’s headquarters in Akure on Thursday. The elections were initially planned for July 13, 2024, but were postponed indefinitely due to political parties' failure to comply with electoral guidelines.
Dr. Aremo clarified that the elections were never canceled but rescheduled to ensure adherence to necessary processes. He assured that the commission is committed to delivering a free, fair, and transparent election and urged political parties to submit validated candidate lists if primaries were conducted before the postponement.
Key dates leading up to the election were also outlined:
Primaries and Validation: November 25 to December 7, 2024
Submission of Candidate Forms: December 9, 2024
Substitution of Candidates: December 12 to December 13, 2024
Collection and Submission of Nomination Forms: December 16 to December 18, 2024
Campaign Period: December 23, 2024, to January 16, 2025
Distribution of Non-Sensitive Materials: January 6 to January 10, 2025
Olaoluwa Adesanya, Chairman of the Ondo State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), expressed confidence in ODIEC's preparedness and promised that political parties would cooperate to ensure a smooth electoral process.
Dr. Aremo’s announcement comes after several previous rescheduling attempts. The commission's commitment to a transparent election process was reaffirmed, with assurances that all procedural guidelines will be followed rigorously.
