The suspended local government election in Ondo State has been scheduled to hold on August 22, 2020.

UGAMATV had earlier reported that the exercise was scheduled to hold on april 2020, prior to the pandemic, however it was suspended due to the outbreak of the COVID-19.

But the Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof Yomi Dinakin, while speaking at the headquarters of the commission in Akure, the state capital, on Monday, said the election would hold next month.

He said the choice of the date by the commission was in compliance with Section 25 of the Electoral Act which conferred on the commission the power to determine the date of the election.

Dinakin said, “Notice is hereby given that the poll for chairmanship and councilorship elections shall hold on Saturday, 22nd of August, 2020.

“Accreditation and voting start 8am on that day and closes 3pm to give room for collation. All vehicular movement shall be restricted except those on essential and election duties. Markets and shops shall remain closed within the period.

“There shall be no open campaign rallies, there should be no mass congregation of persons. Contestants are enjoined to use social media, electronic, print, and others to canvass for votes within the stipulated period of campaign.

“On the day of the election, the commission shall demand and enforce compliance with health protocols such as physical distancing, hand washing, use of sanitisers, face mask and other procedure.”

Speaking on behalf of the participating political parties, the Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council in the state, Charles Fagbounka, commended the commission on the decision to conduct the poll after a very long period of suspension.

He pledged that the political parties would not only comply with the rules of the game but the COVID rules to make the election a success.