The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that political parties are now permitted to start campaigning in public from Wednesday 19th June 2024 and end at midnight on Thursday 14th November 2024.
It, however, added that political parties should 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.
TheHintsNews reports that Ondo State Governorship Election is scheduled to hold on Saturday 16th November 2024.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun in a statement issued Thursday revealed that the commission has published the final list of candidates and their running mates following the initial primaries.
He stressed that the personal particulars of the governorship candidates and their running mates have been published in the State and local government offices.
This, he said, was in line with the provision of Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022.
He said with the publication of the final list of candidates, the next activity is electionering 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 prior to that day.
Olumekun noted: “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 commission also pointed out that two political parties conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates and their running mates by the deadline of 10th June 2024.
Olumekun said: “The parties are the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) while five 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).”
He noted that 17 political parties are fielding candidates for the election, stressing that, “No political party has nominated a female candidate while one 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.
Olumekun stressed that the list has been published at INEC office in Akure and also uploaded on its website and social media platforms for public information.