The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) announced on Monday that the local government election scheduled for this year has been postponed indefinitely.

At a press briefing held at the commission’s headquarters in Akure, the state capital, ODIEC Chairman Dr. Joseph Aremo explained that the postponement was due to political parties’ noncompliance with the Electoral Act.

Initially set for February 2024, the election was postponed after the passing of the late former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. The tenure of the council chairmen expired in August 2023, leading to the appointment of caretaker committees. However, these appointments were short-lived as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa suspended the committees following a court case challenging their inauguration. Subsequently, directors of Local Government Administration were directed to manage the councils.

Dr. Aremo criticized the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in the state, labeling their actions as sabotage, noting that no political party had submitted any candidate names. IPAC state chairman Olaoluwa Adesanya revealed that registered political parties deliberately boycotted the electoral process. Adesanya accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of refusing to meet with IPAC leadership, despite numerous letters sent requesting a meeting.

Adesanya asserted that political parties would not participate in the election until after a meeting with the governor to confirm the state government’s preparedness to conduct the council poll.