Ondo guber: Seven political parties replace candidates 

Ahead November governorship elections in Ondo state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that seven out of the 17 political parties eligible to field candidates have replaced their candidates.

Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee in a statement on Thursday night revealed that two political parties conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates and their running-mates while five others presented fresh nominations as running mates.

He said, “The parties are the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) while five (5) parties replaced their running mates only. They are the African Action Congress (AAC), the Action Democratic Party (ADP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).”

“Overall, seventeen (17) political parties are fielding candidates for the election. No political party has nominated a female candidate while one (1) candidate nominated by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is a person with disability (a paraplegic). The final list also gives the breakdown of the candidates by age and academic qualifications.”

The Commission further declared that it has since given endorsement to the commencement of campaigns by candidates ahead of the off-season election.

It urged the leadership of political parties to caution their candidates and party faithful to conduct themselves with decorum in the course of campaigns.

The statement further reads in part: “With the publication of the final list of candidates, the next activity is electioneering campaign. 

“As provided by Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, campaigns by Political Parties in public shall commence not earlier than 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day. 

“Therefore, Political Parties are now permitted to start campaign in public from Wednesday 19th June 2024 and end at midnight on Thursday 14th November 2024 as indicated in items 8 and 12 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.

“As parties commence this critical phase of the election, the Commission once again reminds candidates, agents and their supporters of the provision of the law and the Commission’s guidelines governing such activity. For emphasis, parties shall conduct their campaigns with civility and decorum devoid of inciting language, violence, voter inducement and other infractions in accordance with the provisions of Section 92-97 of the Electoral Act 2022. 

“The Ondo State Governorship Election is scheduled to hold on Saturday 16th November 2024.”

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