14 Political Parties To Participate In Ondo Council Polls

The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission says no fewer than 14 political parties would participate in the April 23 local government election in the state.
The commission’s Chairman, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, stated this in Akure on Thursday at a stakeholders meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.
Ige said ODIEC was determined to carry everybody along in entrenching grassroots democracy.
He, however, debunked the rumour that only one political party was participating in the election, saying candidates of some political parties had been screened by the commission.
Ige, who expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in the commission, said the political process was a joint effort and everyone would be given level playing ground.
He added that 10,000 ad hoc staff would be recruited for the 3,009 polling units in the 203 wards in the state.
The commission’s chairman gave an assurance that there would be adequate security before, during and after the election, stressing that more than 6,000 security personnel would be deployed.
Ige also said that permanent voter card would be used for the exercise.
NAN reports that those at the meeting included representatives of political parties, police, army, navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as Nigeria Immigration Service.
NAN