The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced its withdrawal from the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, January 18, 2025.
The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission had earlier screened 13 political parties, including the PDP, to participate in the council polls. However, the PDP’s withdrawal leaves 12 parties in the race.
This is contained in a statement on Thursday in Akure made available to newsmen by Mr Leye Igbabo, the PDP Director of Media and Publicity in the state, who expressed a lack of confidence in the authenticity of the electoral process.
The statement read, “This decision follows 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.”
According to the statement, PDP as a responsible political party, is committed to democracy and the rule of law. “The party cannot, in good conscience, confer legitimacy on a compromised process by participating in the election. This withdrawal upholds our stance on integrity, as participating would legitimize a potentially unfair election.
The party has decided to withdraw from the election to maintain its integrity and uphold its commitment to fair electoral practices. The PDP has assured its supporters and the people of Ondo State that it remains dedicated to reforming the electoral process. Meanwhile, the state PDP Chairman, Dr. Fatai Bakitta Bello, confirmed the party’s withdrawal from the elections in a phone conversation.
