JUST IN: Ondo shuts selected schools ahead of Wednesday election

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has announced the temporary closure of selected public primary and secondary schools ahead of the State House of Assembly election scheduled for Wednesday.

This development was disclosed in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Akindele M. Ige, noting that the affected schools would serve as polling centres across the 18 LGAs of the state.

The ministry directed learners, teachers and other members of staff in the affected schools to stay at home on the election day to ensure safety and smooth conduct of the exercise.

“This directive is aimed at protecting lives and property as well as ensuring a peaceful and orderly electoral process within school premises,” the statement said.

The ministry added that heads of affected schools would be contacted directly to ensure compliance, while officials from Zonal and Area Education Offices would monitor enforcement.

It, however, assured parents and candidates that adequate arrangements had been made to ensure the smooth conduct of the ongoing WAEC examinations in affected schools, especially for boarding students.

“School administrators are expected to grant election officials access to facilities needed for the conduct of the election,” the statement added.

The ministry clarified that only schools designated as polling centres would be closed, stressing that normal academic activities would resume in the affected schools on Thursday, May 21, 2026.