The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) victorious in 16 out of 18 local government areas following the council elections held on Saturday.
ODIEC Chairman, Dr. Joseph Aremo, announced the results on Sunday, noting that elections in the remaining two LGAs—Owo and Ondo West—had been rescheduled due to irregularities.
Controversy in Owo and Ondo West LGAs
Dr. Aremo explained that the elections in the two affected local government areas were nullified due to errors in the ballot papers, specifically the inclusion of the wrong logo for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). The polls were subsequently rescheduled for Sunday, but results for these areas were still pending as of press time.
Political Parties’ Participation
A total of 12 political parties participated in the elections, including:
- All Progressives Congress (APC)
- Labour Party (LP)
- Action Peoples Party (APP)
- New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
- Social Democratic Party (SDP)
- Action Democratic Party (ADP)
- All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)
- Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
- National Rescue Movement (NRM)
- Action Alliance (AA)
- Young Progressive Party (YPP)
- Boot Party (BP)
PDP Withdraws Amid Credibility Concerns
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party, announced its withdrawal from the elections on Thursday, citing concerns over ODIEC’s credibility and impartiality.
In a statement, the PDP’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Leye Igbabo, said:
“Our party fielded 15 chairmanship candidates in 15 local government areas and 131 councillorship candidates. However, observations and reports point to a troubling pattern of double standards by ODIEC, raising serious doubts about their ability to conduct a free, fair, and credible election.”
The PDP’s withdrawal was described as a move to preserve its integrity and commitment to credible electoral practices.
Rescheduling and Results Awaited
While elections in the two affected LGAs were held again on Sunday, ODIEC had not released the results at the time of reporting. The commission promised transparency in compiling and announcing the final outcomes.
Broader Implications
The PDP’s withdrawal and the cancellation of elections in Owo and Ondo West highlight persistent challenges in Nigeria’s electoral process, including logistical issues and concerns about impartiality. These controversies could impact public confidence in local governance and the credibility of future elections in Ondo State.
As the rescheduled results are awaited, the focus remains on how ODIEC and participating political parties will address these issues and work toward fostering trust in the electoral process.
