Ondo State To Hold LG Election August 22

The Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof Yomi Dinakin, has announced that the suspended local government election in Ondo State has been fixed for August 22, 2020.

Recall that the electoral process which was earlier scheduled to hold in April 2020, was suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dinakin, while speaking at the headquarters of the commission in Akure, the state capital, on Monday, noted that the election would hold next month.

The electoral body chairman stated that the choice of date is in compliance with Section 25 of the Electoral Act which conferred on the commission the power to determine the date of the election.

Dinakin said, “Notice is hereby given that the poll for chairmanship and councilorship elections shall hold on Saturday, 22nd of August, 2020.”

“Accreditation and voting start at 8 am on that day and closes at 3 pm to give room for collation. All vehicular movement shall be restricted except those on essential and election duties. Markets and shops shall remain closed within the period.”

“There shall be no open campaign rallies, there should be no mass congregation of persons. Contestants are enjoined to use social media, electronic, print, and others to canvass for votes within the stipulated period of the campaign.”

“On the day of the election, the commission shall demand and enforce compliance with health protocols such as physical distancing, hand washing, use of sanitisers, face mask and other procedure.”

The Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council in the state, Charles Fagbounka, while speaking on behalf of the participating political parties, commended the commission on the decision to conduct the poll after a very long period of suspension.

Fagbounka noted that the political parties in the state would not only comply with the rules of the game but the COVID rules to make the election a success.