The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has announced that elections in the 18 local government areas and 203 wards of the state will now take place on January 18, 2025.

Chairman of ODIEC, Dr Joseph Aremo, disclosed this at a Stakeholders’ meeting which took place at the Commission’s headquarters in Akure, Ondo State.

The elections which were earlier rescheduled to take place on July 13, 2024, were postponed indefinitely.

Aremo said the elections were never cancelled but rather rescheduled because of political parties‘ non-compliance with the electoral guidelines and processes.

He explained that the postponement of the elections became important as the commission was fed up with the rescheduling.

He gave assurance of ODIEC’s readiness to conduct free, fair and credible elections, while urging the political parties that had conducted primaries before the postponement to forward the validated list of candidates to the commission.

Aremo outlined the continuation of activities for the conduct of the elections, noting that the completion of political parties primaries and validation of candidates will take place from November 25 to December 7, 2024.

He also said December 9, this year is the last day for the submission of forms for particulars of candidates and the list of candidates by political parties.

Aremo stated that the substitution of candidates by political parties will begin from December 12 to December 13, while the collection and submission of nomination forms will start from December 16 to December 18.

He also added that campaigns by political parties will kick off on December 23 and end at midnight on January 16, 2025.