By Adekola Afolabi
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The Chairman, Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Professor Yomi Dinakin, has said the commission is on course and will hold the December 1, 2018 local government election in the state as scheduled.

Dinakin who stated this yesterday during a telephone conversation disclosed that the commission is following the election time-table earlier released to all the stakeholders in accordance with the electoral law.

According to him, necessary arrangements are being put in place to ensure an hitch-free poll.

He observed that the election is sacrosanct for grassroots development; hence the people must be fully involved in the exercise and freely elect their representatives.

Eighteen different political parties are expected to participate in the forthcoming poll.

The chairman restated ODIEC’s commitment to credible, peaceful, free and fair polls, urging relevant stakeholders to play the game according to the rules.

It was also confirmed that the issue of nomination fee to be paid by candidates of political parties has also been addressed as the commission has reduced the fee by 50 per cent.

As a result of the review, candidate for chairmanship position will now pay N25, 000 as against N50, 000, while those vying for councillorship positions will now pay N10, 000 as against N20, 000.

The participating parties had protested what they called exorbitant nominate fee, calling on the electoral umpire to reduce it by 50 percent.