We’re not participating in Saturday’s Ondo LG poll — PDP

…Your non participation will not stop the exercise, says ODIEC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State Thursday said it would not participate in the forthcoming January 18th, 2025 Local Government elections saying the credibility, transparency and impartiality of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has failed the integrity test.

The party, in a statement made available to journalists in Akure by its Director of Media and Publicity, Leye Igbagbo, said their decision was a product of several layers of consultations of the party leaders, stakeholders and the National Secretariat of the party.

According to Igbagbo, “our party fielded 15 chairmanship candidates in 15 local government areas and 131 councillorship candidates. But, from all indications, ODIEC’s credibility, transparency, and impartiality have failed the integrity test.

The statement reads further; “recent 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.

“As a responsible political party committed to democracy and the rule of law, we can not, in good conscience, confer legitimacy on this compromised process by participating in the election.

“We have, therefore, resolved to withdraw our participation in this exercise to uphold the integrity of our party and our unwavering belief in credible electoral practices.

“We further assure our teeming supporters and the good people of Ondo State, that our commitment to sanitise the Electoral process is irrevocable.”

But the ODIEC’s chairman, Joseph Aremo, while confirming their withdrawal from the exercise said; “if a party out of 13 is withdrawing, are we not going to jeopardize the interests of other people? We have enough parties.”

Aremo, who spoke with journalists on their preparedness to conduct the poll said further; “we have 13 political parties that will be participating in the election and we have all materials on ground, the election will take place simultaneously. Even if we have five parties withdrawing today, we cannot stop the process because I don’t understand this system.

“For us, what we have done is to create a template where every party has the ability to showcase whatever it has. Now, they have been part and parcel of the process. Their candidates appeared for the screening and we have verified their particulars.

“I got their letter yesterday, saying that they are withdrawing from the process, that they don’t have confidence on ODIEC, but they have been attending our programmes and workshops. But for us, it doesn’t matter if any party withdraw. What matters to us is to conduct an election that is going to be free, fair, credible, and transparent.

“Voting is right, voting is power. Because when you vote, you can vote against and you can vote to support.

“For me is to do something that is transparent, free, fair, and credible. Like I said, this election is going to be a benchmark for the country and we are working towards that. All hands must be on deck to ensure that nothing is left undone. We have enough security personnel that are going to police the police station and our materials.

“With all the strategies we have put in place, I can assure you that the election is going to be seamless and peaceful.”