The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission has postponed the local government election to January 18, 2025.

ODIEC chair Joseph Aremo announced this during a stakeholders’ meeting at the commission’s headquarters in Akure.

The election, which was to be conducted on December 16, 2023, was postponed to February 17 and later to July 13 and then indefinitely until the announcement of the new date.

”Election was never cancelled but rescheduled due to non-compliance of political parties with the electoral guidelines and processes,” he said.

Mr Aremo, while assuring residents of the commission’s readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible election, said that the exercise would be transparent.

He urged political parties that had conducted primaries before the postponement to forward the validated list of candidates to the commission.

“The completion of political parties primaries and validation of candidates will take place from November 25 to December 7. December 9 will be the last day for the submission of forms for particulars of candidates and the list of candidates by political parties.

“Substitution of candidates by political parties will occur from Dec. 12 to December 13, while the collection and submission of nomination forms will begin from December 16 until December 18.

“Campaigns by political parties will kick off on December 23 and end by midnight of January 16, 2025,” he said.

The ODIEC chair explained that the distribution of non-sensitive materials to the 18 local governments would take place from January 6, 2025, to January 10, 2025.

Olaoluwa Adesanya, the chair of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, expressed satisfaction with the ODIEC chief’s presentation on the preparedness of the commission for the elections.

He assured the commission and residents of IPAC’s participation in the election.

(NAN)