Ondo: PDP pulls out of Saturday’s LG election, chides ODIEC

By Folarunsho Alagbede

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced that it would not participate in tomorrow’s local government election in Ondo State.

While alleging that the state Independent Electoral Commission, (ODIEC) of lack of transparency, the opposition party stated that the electoral body does not have the credibility to conduct the election.

While confirming the development, the acting chairman of the party, Bakita Bello, disclosed that the position of the party had been communicated to the electoral body.

PDP had a few months ago confirmed that it will participate in the poll after fielding 15 chairmanship and 131 councillorship candidates.

In the letter, which was signed by the Director of Media and Publicity in the state, Leye Igbagbo, it was stressed that its findings revealed that ODIEC cannot be trusted with the process.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter, has withdrawn from participating in the January 18th, 2025, local government elections organised by the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC). This decision is a product of several layers of consultations of party leaders, stakeholders,, and the National Secretariat of our great party.

“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 cannot, in good conscience, confer legitimacy on this compromised process by participating in the election.”