Confirming the lineup for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the participation of 19 political parties.
Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, revealed that these political parties have indicated their readiness to take part in the upcoming poll.
In a meeting with representatives of the political parties in Akure, Babalola emphasized that the parties have duly informed the Commission about the scheduling of their primaries for the governorship election.
The list of political parties includes 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).
Also in the lineup are 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).
Babalola highlighted that the purpose of the meeting was to interact with political parties regarding their upcoming primary elections and underscored the crucial role political parties play in ensuring the success and integrity of the electoral process.
She urged all parties to strictly adhere to their internal guidelines, rules, and constitutional regulations during their primaries next month.
The commissioner stressed the importance of political parties fostering internal democracy during the primary elections to mitigate tensions, divisions, and potential pre-election disputes.
Babalola enjoined the parties to conduct their primaries in a peaceful, orderly, and transparent manner to uphold the credibility of the election outcomes.