INEC publishes final list of candidates for Ondo guber poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates for the Ondo state governorship election.

The off-cycle governorship election in Ondo is scheduled to be held on November 16.

In a statement on Thursday, Sam Olumekun, the INEC national commissioner and chairman of information and voter education committee, said the commission published the personal particulars of the candidates and their running mates in the state and LGA offices.

Olumekun said two political parties — New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) — conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates and running mates.

He said five other parties — 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) — replaced their running mates.

“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 a disability (a paraplegic),” the statement reads.

Some of the candidates on the list include Lucky Aiyedatiwa (All Progressives Congress), Olorunfemi Ayodele (Labour Party), Olugbenga Omogbemi (NNPP), Ajayi Alfred (Peoples Democratic Party), and Akingboye Benson (Social Democratic Party).

COMMENCEMENT OF CAMPAIGN

The national commissioner said 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 before the election.

He said political parties are now permitted to start campaigning in public from June 19 and end at midnight on November 14.

“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,” he said.

“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.”