The Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Joseph Aremo, has announced the outcome of chairmanship election conducted across 18 local government areas of the state on Saturday, January 18.
In his announcement at the commission’s headquarters in Akure on Sunday, the electoral officer noted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) secured victory in 16 out of the 18 chairmanship positions.
He mentioned that while the rescheduled election is taking place in Ondo West Local Government Area, results are awaited from Owo Local Government Area.
Naijaonpoint understands that only twelve political parties participated in the chairmanship and councillorship elections held on Saturday.
Before the election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared its withdrawal from the process, expressing a lack of confidence in the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct a fair election.
The twelve political parties that contested in the election include Action Alliance, Action Democratic Party, Action People’s Party, All Progressives Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Boot Party, and Labour Party.
Additionally, the list includes the National Rescue Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Social Democratic Party, Young Progressive Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
Before the election on Saturday, the previous council election in the state was held on August 23, 2020, with the terms of the elected council officials ending on August 22, 2023.
Since that time, the governance of the state’s 18 council regions has been overseen by civil servants, specifically the Heads of Local Government Administrations.
Nevertheless, following multiple delays, the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission has finally scheduled the election for January 18, 2025.