THE Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), has reiterated its commitment to conduct elections into the 18 Local Government areas and 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state slated for July 13.
The Commission added that the day for the election is sacrosanct to elect 18 council chairmen and 33 councillors into all the LCDAs.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Joseph Aremo who declared this at a meeting with political parties in the state on Monday, assured that the elections would hold as scheduled.
He assured cooperation of all the stakeholders including security operatives to conduct peaceful elections in the 18 councils and the 33 LCDAs across the state.
According to him, the timetable and outline of activities for the conduct of the elections did not change as it was planned.
He charged the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) as the umbrella body of political parties in the state on the need to communicate the readiness of the Commission on the polls to others political parties not in attendance.
In the guidelines for the elections, the political parties are expected to commence their primaries on May 13 and end it on June 3.
Aremo appealed to all the representatives of the political parties at the meeting to stick to days programmed by the Commission for the conduct of their primaries.
He urged them to pick their candidates within the LCDAs they belong to avoid litigation.
His words “We are conducting elections into 203 wards for the position of councilorship and two positions which include chairmen in 18 councils and 33 LCDAs.
“On our part, we are set. All we need is your cooperation.
“The essence of the meeting is to charge and prepare political parties ahead of the elections.We are not rescheduling again as the day is sacrosanct.”
Speaking, the State Chairman of IPAC, Mr. Olaoluwa Adesanya, commended the chairman of the commission for his preparation to ensure the elections hold.
He, therefore, assured the Commission of IPAC’s cooperation towards the conduct of credible elections.
Peoplesmind
