PDP Withdraws from Ondo Local Government Elections, Cites Lack of Trust in ODIEC
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming local government area elections scheduled for Saturday, January 18, 2025. The party expressed a lack of confidence in the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), citing concerns over the election planning process.
Confirming the decision, acting chairman Bakita Bello revealed that the party had formally communicated its position to the electoral body. Previously, the PDP had announced its participation, 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, the party stressed that its findings revealed that ODIEC cannot be trusted with the process.
He said: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter, has withdrawn from participating in the January 18, 2025, local government elections organized by the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC). This decision is a product of several layers of consultations with party leaders, stakeholders, and the National Secretariat of our great party.
“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 cannot, 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 sanitizing the electoral process is irrevocable.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of ODIEC, Joseph Aremo, expressed dismay at the decision of PDP despite attending all the programs organized for all the 13 participating political parties.
He said, “They were talking about due process, no confidence. But I got that in the letter for the first time yesterday. But they have been attending our program and our workshop.
“Even if you go online, even in newspapers, you find that they have been saying that they have confidence in us. And that what we have been doing so far has been transparently done. And not only that, even at the level of their, what do you call it, platform, the one you call APAC, they have been commending us.
“We have to organize workshops, training, and seminars for all political parties and election stakeholders to get them to know what those things are that are expected of them. Because beyond just participating in an election, they have the responsibility of educating their members about their rights and power.”
