National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By: Ekpenyong Emmanuel
In a surprising move, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has withdrawn from the Ondo State local government election, scheduled to take place on Saturday.
The party’s decision, announced by its acting chairman in the state, Bakita Bello, has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
According to Bello, the party has lost confidence in the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) to conduct a free and fair election.
“It’s our decision to announce that we (PDP) has decided not to participate in the local government election. We have also informed ODIEC in writing about this development,” Bello said.
The PDP’s withdrawal is attributed to ODIEC’s failure to pass the “integrity test.”
The party’s spokesman, Leye Igbabo, stated that recent observations and reports indicate a troubling pattern of double standards by ODIEC, raising serious doubts about their ability to conduct a credible election.
In response to the PDP’s withdrawal, the Chairman of ODIEC, Joseph Aremo, expressed shock, stating that the PDP had been part of the processes leading up to the election.
Aremo claimed that ODIEC had created a level-playing ground for all parties, but the PDP’s withdrawal has cast a shadow over the electoral process.
Meanwhile, the police have announced restrictions on vehicular movements on Saturday to ensure a smooth and secure electoral process.
With the PDP’s withdrawal, the election’s credibility has been called into question, leaving many to wonder about the implications for the state’s democratic process.
