The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given reasons for pulling out of this saturday’s local government council elections scheduled in the stare.
The major opposition party in the state made this known in a statement signed by party’s Director of Media And Publicity, Leye Igbagbo, said the party decided to withdraw from the election after meeting with the stakeholders.
Igbagbo however, said the decision to withdraw from participating in the local government election was borne out to the credibility and transparency of the electoral umpire, Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC)
The party queried the credibility, transparency, and impartiality of the ODIEC saying the umpire has failed the integrity test even before the election.
The party noted the double standard of ODIEC saying the development raised serious doubt about the ability of the state’s electoral to conduct a free, fair, and credible election.
The statement read: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter, has withdrawn from participating in the January 18th, 2025 Local Government elections organised by the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC).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”
He said “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.
“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”
