The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State announced on Thursday, January 16, that it would withdraw from the local government council elections scheduled for January 18.
The party made this decision following extensive consultations with stakeholders, as revealed in a statement by the PDP’s Director of Media and Publicity in the state, Leye Igbabo. He explained that the party’s withdrawal was due to concerns over the ability of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) to conduct a free and fair election.
“This decision follows several rounds of consultations with party leaders, stakeholders, and the national secretariat of our party,” the statement read. “Our party had fielded 15 chairmanship candidates and 131 councillorship candidates, but based on recent indications, ODIEC has failed the integrity test concerning credibility, transparency, and impartiality.”
The PDP further expressed concerns over reports of double standards within ODIEC, which have raised serious doubts about the commission’s ability to deliver a fair election. “The party cannot, in good conscience, lend legitimacy to a compromised process by participating. This withdrawal aligns with our commitment to integrity.”
