The newly elected Chairmen in last Saturday’s Local Government elections in Ondo state have received Certificates of Return from the Ondo State Independent Election Commission ODIEC.
Also presented the certificates were the Vice chairmen-elect from the 18 local government Areas of the state.
Presenting the Certificates to the Chairmen-elect at the Commission’s headquarters in Akure, ODIEC Chairman, Dr Joseph Aremo said, the election was conducted across the State by the law guiding the Electoral body.
Dr Aremo commended the staff of ODIEC for their commitment and professionalism displayed before and during the election.
The ODIEC chairman said reports from other States’ Independent Electoral Commissions teams who monitored the election have rated the last Saturday election as being the best conducted in recent times.
He however urged the chairmen-elect to deliver on their electioneering promises and prioritise the development of the grassroots.
The chairman of Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC, Dr Joseph Aremo has announced that , Ondo West Local Government election for the position of Chairmanship has been cancelled.
Briefing journalists in Akure, the state capital, Dr Aremo said the cancellation became necessary due to complaints by the New Nigeria People’s party NNPP that old logo of the party was used instead of the new one.
He said the commission only cancelled election into the championship position in the local government and not inclusive of the councillorship positions
The ODIEC boss said the rescheduled local government Area would take place between 11 and 4pm.
According to him, he said the materials needed including the new logo for NNPP would be ready for use at the rescheduled council election.
Asked if the rescheduled Ondo West local government election would delay announcement of results from other local government areas, the ODIEC chairman said announcement of results from other local governments will not be delayed.
He said the commission would be fair to all stakeholders including participating political parties in the local government election.
Dr Aremo assured residents of the state that ODIEC would conduct a free, fair and credible local government election in Ondo State.
By Kayode Animasaun/ Olufisoye Adenitan/ Isaac Afolabi
Security has been beefed up at the state headquarters of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC, located along Oba Ile road in Akure, the state capital as the local government election is in progress in Ondo State.
Radio Nigeria Correspondent reports that personnel from the Nigeria Police Force were deployed at the ODIEC office to maintain peace and order.
It was gathered that the Security and Civil Defense Corps did not participate in the conduct of the election as the corps had not attended any of the security meetings called by the ODIEC before the election.
The security personnel manned strategic positions at the ODIEC state office with sniffer dogs.
They also mounted Roadblocks along the Oba Ile road in front of the office, stopping and searching vehicles.
The Oba Ile road has also been closed to vehicular movement just as only accredited individuals were allowed to pass.
Also, individuals were subjected to thorough screenings by men of the Nigerian Police.
Meanwhile, Ondo State Governor Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa who participated in the local government election in the state, described the election as a step towards enhancing grassroots development.
The Governor reiterated the commitment of his administration to the effective running of the local government system in the state in line with the provisions of the law.
He cast his vote at Polling Unit 5, Ugbo Ward 4, in Ilaje Local Government Area, commending the electoral process.
Speaking with journalists after casting his ballot, the Governor commended the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) for the seamless conduct of the poll.
Governor Aiyedatiwa also thanked the people of the State for participating in the election.
Also, The Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami has expressed satisfaction with the high turnout of voters for the local government election in the state.
The deputy governor stated this when he voted at Igbooroko Unit 16 , ward 3 in Owo.
He expressed delight with the level of turnout, urged the people to maintain law and order after the process.
Dr Adelami said local government administration was critical to good governance and democracy for growth and development
Also speaking, the APC candidate for chairmanship in Owo, Mr Tope Omolayo appreciated president Bola Tinubu for allowing grassroots democracy to strive after 16 years of interrupted local government elections.
Speaking with Positive FM, the Electoral officers in Isaipen Ward 3 unit 8, Owo, Gbadamosi Owolabi and Mudasiru Adegbeha said the exercise has been peaceful and violent-free.
They expressed optimism that the election will bring dividends of democracy closer to the people at the grassroots.
Ondo State Government has declared Friday, 17th of January, 2025 as a Work-Free Day for Public Servants in the state to enable them to travel to their various communities to exercise their civic responsibilities in the Local Government Election in Ondo State has been scheduled by the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) to hold on Saturday, 18th of January 2025.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan.
The Statement states that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa urges all stakeholders to ensure a free, fair and peaceful local government election across the state.
Ahead of next Saturday’s Local Government election in Ondo State, the All Progressives Congress, APC, party in the state has constituted two committees for the purpose of the election.
The committees are a five-man council poll campaign committee to be chaired by Sir Charles Fagbohunka while another three-man reconcilatory committee will be headed by Mr Agaba Atili.
Briefing newsmen at the party’s secretariat in Akure, APC state’s publicity secretary, Mr Alex Kalejaye explained that the committees were put in place to ensure a smooth campaign ahead of the poll and to also address aggrieved party members.
Mr Kalejaye who said the party was fully prepared for the election noted that the APC campaign would come to an end on Thursday, January 16th.
The APC publicity secretary expressed optimism that the party would emerge victorious in Saturday’s poll as residents would want to reciprocate the ongoing people’s oriented projects across the state
Mr Kalejaye expressed satisfaction with all the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC’s conditions adding that APC alongside 12 other political parties would be participating in the council poll.
The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC says all is set for the conduct of rerun councillorship elections into 3 wards in Akure North and Ifedore Local Government Areas.
ODIEC Chairman, Professor Yomi Dinakin disclosed this at a meeting aimed at putting on notice stakeholders in the affected areas.
Professor Dinakin noted that the 3 wards had their election results declared inconclusive in the August 2020 Local Government Elections in the state.
According to the ODIEC Chairman, the rerun councillorship elections will hold in 2 wards in Akure North and 1 ward in Ifedore Local Government Area.
He informed the stakeholders that the other affected Ikun Ward 9 in Akoko South-West Local Government Area has been cleared by court injunction that ordered issuance certification of returns to the councillor in the ward and the commission had since complied.
Professor Dinakin who said the voter register used last year would still be deployed for the election informed that non-sensitive materials will be moved to the affected local government areas for onward transmission to the wards.
He added that the date for the election will be communicated to a larger stakeholders meeting in due course.
Responding, Chairman Ondo State IPAC, Mr. Charles Fagbohunka commended the electoral body for the notice and stressed that political parties are expectant on the date for the conduct of the rerun councillorship elections.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has won elections into Chairmanship positions in the local government areas of Ondo State.
The APC in the results ratified by the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC, Professor Yomi Dinakin as declared by the Returning Officers emerged victorious in all the 18 local council areas.
Professor Dinakin also announced receipt of results of one hundred and ninety councilors out of the two hundred and three wards in the state.
According to him, there will be rerun elections at a later date in four wards where cases of violence were recorded.
The elected chairmen and their vice-chairmen were issued certificates of return by the ODIEC Chairman who is the Chief Electoral Officer.
Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC, says the certificate of return will be presented to all winners of the local government elections today at the commission’s headquarters Akure as it awaits the results of five local government.
Chief Electoral Officer, who doubles as ODIEC chairman, Prof Yomi Dinakin stated this shortly after receiving results from returning officers of some local government.
In the meantime, the All Progressives Congress APC swept all local government chairmen positions in the announced results.
In Ese Odo Local Government, Mr Folawe Sipasi-Aluko won the election after defeating Mr Iji Gbenga of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, while Mr Paul Aderudoye of the APC defeated Mr Ayo Adeshina of the ADC to emerge as chairman in Akoko South East.
In Ilaje Local Government Area, Mr Olamigoke of the APC also emerged as the winner of the council election.
In Akure South Local Government, Mr Gbenga Olaniyi of the APC emerged winner while Bankole Ogbetoye also of the APC won the council poll for Akure North.
Chief Samuel Adegbegi of the APC was declared winner of the local government elections in Owo Local Government while Mr Ebenezer Akinsulure of the APC emerged winner in Ondo West, Mr Igbekele Akinrinwa also of the APC won the election for Okitipupa Local Government while Mr Akinsuroju Michael also from the APC was declared winner of the Ile-Oluji Oke -Igbo Local Government elections.
The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC, has taken delivery of sensitive materials for the conduct of local government election slated for the Saturday, August 22.
ODIEC Chairman, Professor Yomi Dinakin while presenting it to participating political parties at the commission’s headquarters, said all is set for the conduct of the council poll.
Professor Dinakin noted that the materials would be distributed to the 18 council areas at the stipulated time in accordance with electoral acts guiding the conduct of the poll.
Some of the sensitive materials include ballot papers, forms ODIEC EC8A, EC8A (1), EC8B, EC8B (1), EC8C, EC8E and EC8E (1).
Others include certificate of return of election for Chairman, Vice Chairman and Councilors.
The ODIEC Chairman discarded the insinuation in some quarters that voting materials would not get to some areas emphasizing that the commission had put in place measures to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
Meanwhile soft copies of voters’ register were distributed to the nine political parties present at the presentation of the sensitive materials.
Radio Nigeria correspondent reports that political parties at the event include AAC, ADC, APC, PGA, DP, AA, PPC, SDP and Accord Party.
The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC is to come out with a revised time table for the conduct the Local Government election.
The election earlier scheduled for 18th April this year was put on hold due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
The Commissioner in charge of Media and publicity Mr Rotimi Olorunfemi disclosed the new development after the meeting held with some stakeholders to discuss the best way to conduct the election at the commission’s office in Akure.
Mr Olorunfemi noted that vital aspect of the workings for the conduct of the elections did not stop during the temporary break and preparations were 90% complete.
The ODIEC Commissioner hinted that the commission would inform the public on its plan for the conduct of the elections through press briefing before the end of the week.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had called on its workers in Ondo and Edo states to start preparing for the conduct of the governorship elections, the development prompted ODIEC to swing into action.
The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC says it has put in place measures to check the effect of coronavirus scare on the conduct of the local government election slated for April 18.
ODIEC Commissioner in charge of Media and
Publicity, Mr. Rotimi Olorunfemi who maintained that the commission did not
have plans to postpone the poll disclosed this while briefing Newsmen in Akure.
Mr. Olorunfemi stated that the commission had made provision for hand washing bowls, sanitizers and gloves to carter for the people that would be participating in the election.
He noted that the commission would also be collaborating with the state Ministry of Health to ensure the safety of members of ad hoc staff and officials before, during and after the poll.
According to him, the electoral officials will
only attend to twenty voters at a time in order to align with government laid
down rules of health safety.
On the training of ad hoc Staff, Mr. Olorunfemi emphasized that provision had been made to breakdown it down to manageable sizes in adherence to government directives.
The Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo has called on the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC, to conduct a credible and acceptable local government election come April 18.
Oba Aladetoyinbo made the call when he received members of the
commission led by its Chairman, Professor Yomi Dinakin at the Palace.
The monarch who expressed confidence in ODIEC also called for more
sensitization on the side of the commission especially through electronic
medium due to the ravaging corona virus disease.
Earlier, ODIEC Chairman Professor Yomi Dinakin said the visit to the palace
was part of the commission’s efforts of sensitizing the people on the
importance attached to the council poll.
Professor Dinakin affirmed that the election would hold at the
stipulated date of April 18 without hitch.
The ODIEC boss added that necessary measures are being put in place for smooth conduct of the election.
The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC, has begun the screening of candidates to participate in the April 18 local government election in the state.
The exercise is being carried out at the headquarters of the commission
in Akure.
Speaking to journalists, chairman of the commission, Professor Yomi Dinakin disclosed that the ongoing exercise had only 27 chairmanship candidates from nine political parties that have indicated interest to participate in the council polls.
Professor Dinakin noted that according to law, the screening was to show consistency and clarification of candidate form, payment of tax, evidence of development levy and qualification.
The chairman of the commission noted that the electoral law of the state had it that candidates must have been sponsored by his/her political party and which the commission has keyed into.
Professor Dinakin insisted that the indication of participation does not mean that political parties must present candidates, saying that some parties only fielded candidates for one or two local governments.
Some of the chairmanship candidates described the screening exercise
as transparent and would assist in avoiding litigation over fake
credentials.
Meanwhile, the vice-chairmanship candidates who had earlier scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed to a date that will be communicated by the commission due to public holiday declared by the state government.
Similarly, screening of candidates for the position of councilor would hold at the area offices of the commission across the eighteen local government areas.
