The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission has expressed shock at the withdrawal of the Peoples Democratic Party from Saturday’s local government election.

The Peoples Gazette reports that about 10 political parties had shown interest in the coming election.

But on Thursday, the opposition PDP announced that it was boycotting the local government election, citing that it “lost confidence” in the electoral umpire.

Reacting to the development, Chairman of ODIEC, Joseph Aremo, said the PDP was part of the processes leading to the exercise before its withdrawal.

Mr Aremo explained that the PDP also attended the workshop and other seminars organised by commission ahead of the Saturday’s LG poll.

Stressing that the party had submitted a list of its agents for the election, the ODIEC chairman added that nothing would stop the council election slated for Saturday.

“We are shocked because the PDP has been part and parcel of the process at the initial stage. In fact, members of the party have been commending us. We have also created a level-playing field and template where everyone has the ability to showcase whatever it has and for the people of the state.

“For us, it doesn’t matter if any party withdraws from the exercise. But, what matters to us is to conduct an election that is going to be free, fair, credible, and transparent,” Mr Aremo spoke on a radio programme monitored by The Gazette.

Mr Aremo noted that the commission had begun with exercise with the distribution of sensitive materials.

The electoral body earlier said about 50 local and national observers indicated interest to monitor the exercise.