By Jubril Bada
|
The Chairman of Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Prof. Yomi Dinakin, has told the political parties in the state that the commission is ready to conduct free and fair local government elections in the state.

Dinakin enjoined them to have confidence in the commission towards the  conduct of credible local government poll scheduled to hold on December 1.

The ODIEC chairman stated this at the State Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) held in Akure, the state capital.

Out of the 48 political parties existing in the state 34 attended the meeting.

The Chairman of  ODIEC, who was represented by the Administrative Secretary of the commission, Mr. Wole Ayeni,  assured the political parties of credible poll and said all their agitations ahead of the poll will be presented before the commission for consideration.

Among the agitations discussed with the commission by the political parties include free and fair elections, reduction of tax clearance and free nomination form’s fee and other grey areas after an election.

The ODIEC had announced that N50,000 and N20,000 to be paid for chairmanship and councillorship positions respectively by the candidates of each political parties, while the cost for the position of deputy chairman  has not been spelt out by the commission.

Speaking with The Hope, the State Chairman of the IPAC, High Chief Alamurin Ogunbodede, said the meeting was convened to discuss grey areas bordering the political parties in respect of the forthcoming council poll in the state.

Ogunbodede, who is also the State Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) said the political parties in attendance demanded from the ODIEC free and fair elections.

“We agitated from ODIEC to conduct free and fair election and it promised to do so and we are standing on their words

“To his person as a Professor of Law, we count on him.

“The election is very paramount to us (parties) and every people living in Ondo State.” he said