Ondo suspends LG polls after IPAC’s boycott threat

The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has announced an indefinite postponement of the rescheduled local government election set for July 13.

The development came following the resolution of political parties in the state to boycott the election, which was fixed for July 13 after several postponements.

Adesanya Olaoluwa, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), announced the boycott during a meeting at the ODIEC office in Akure on Monday.

Olaoluwa stated that the parties decided on this action due to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s alleged refusal to meet with them.

In response, ODIEC chairman Joseph Aremo announced the indefinite postponement of the election, explaining that no political party complied with the guidelines for the rescheduled election, as none had nominated candidates.

“It’s unfortunate that no single party complied with the guidelines for the election. We have yet to receive the nomination of candidates to verify and release for public scrutiny,” Aremo stated.

The election guidelines initially included the proposed 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). However, the Akure Division of the State High Court nullified these LCDAs, created by the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. Justice A.O. Adebusuoye ruled the creation as “inchoate and unlawfully” executed, deeming it unconstitutional since it was signed outside the state.

Governor Akeredolu, who was battling cancer, had assented to the bill for the establishment of the 33 LCDAs on September 9, 2023, from the 18 constitutionally recognised LGAs. The bill was presented by the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Oladiji Olamide, at Akeredolu’s residence in Ibadan.