If, upon the expiration of the time for filing petitions in any primary for city or county, it appears that there is no opposition to any candidate for any office upon any ticket, then the city or county clerk, as the case may be, shall certify to the board of election commissioners the names of all persons whose petitions have been properly filed and the office for which such petitions were filed, and such persons shall be declared by such board of election commissioners nominees for the respective offices, and such county clerk shall forthwith notify the several clerks of the townships and cities interested, if any, and give notice that the primary will not be held as contemplated, giving the reasons therefor, and a public notice shall be given of such determination by a brief notice published by such clerk in a newspaper circulated in such county.