The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, said 19 political parties have notified the commission of their desire to conduct their primary elections ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, disclosed this in Akure, Ondo state capital, during a meeting with the representatives of political parties.
She listed the political parties to include the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Accord Party, Action Alliance, African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, (ADC), African Democratic Party, (ADP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),
Others are the Allied Peoples Movement, (APM), Action Peoples Party, Boot Party, Labour Party, (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), National Rescue Movement, Peoples Redemption Party, (PRP), Social Democratic Party, (SDP), Youth Party, Young Progressives Party, (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP)
The REC noted that the commission received notification from the political parties for the conduct of primaries for the governorship election exercise billed to commence from April 6 to 27, 2024.
She noted that the meeting afford the electoral Commission the opportunity to engage with political parties on the upcoming party primaries.
According to her, the meeting represents a critical juncture in the democratic journey in the state, stressing that the role of political parties in ensuring the success and integrity of the process cannot be overemphasized.
Babalola advised all parties to adhere strictly to their guidelines, rules, and regulations set forth in their constitutions as well as all electoral laws in the conduct of their primaries next month.
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While advising parties to entrench the principle of internal democracy in the conduct of their primaries to reduce tension, division and pre-election cases that may arise after the conduct of the primaries, the REC charged them to ensure that their primaries are conducted in a peaceful, orderly, and transparent manner to ensure the credibility of the outcomes.
It will be recalled that the commission had earlier released the timetable and schedule of activities for the Ondo State off-cycle governorship election, with the conduct of primaries by political parties scheduled for
April 6 to 27 2024, while the election hold on November 16, 2024, in the state.
