The Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Joseph Aremo, has expressed disappointment over the low voter turnout recorded during Saturday’s local government elections in the state.
Speaking after monitoring the electoral process in Akure South, Akure North, and Ifedore local government areas, Aremo described the turnout as “unencouraging” and urged political parties to intensify voter sensitization efforts for future elections.
The ODIEC Chairman highlighted the commission’s proactive measures in the buildup to the polls, which included the early deployment of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials to ensure a smooth electoral process.
“Despite our best efforts to ensure early deployment and seamless operations, the turnout was not encouraging. We hope political parties will do more to sensitize the public ahead of subsequent elections,” Aremo stated.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Wilfred Afolabi, commended the peaceful conduct of residents during the elections. Afolabi, who monitored the exercise within the Akure metropolis, praised the people for their cooperation and urged them to sustain the peaceful atmosphere.
“The peaceful conduct of the electorate today is commendable. We did not witness any security breaches, and this is a testament to the people’s commitment to peace,” he said.