The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates for the Ondo State Governorship Election scheduled to be held on November 16, 2024.
In a press release, INEC Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, stated that the commission has received and processed the nominations of candidates from seventeen (17) political parties for the upcoming election.
According to the statement, two political parties, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates and running mates before the June 10th deadline. Additionally, five other parties replaced their running mates only.
The final list reveals that no political party has nominated a female candidate, but the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has nominated a person with a disability, a paraplegic, as one of its candidates.
The release also provided a breakdown of the candidates’ age and academic qualifications, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
With the publication of the final list, INEC has officially opened the campaign period for political parties, which will commence on June 19, 2024, and end 24 hours before the election day on November 14, 2024.
INEC has reminded candidates, agents, and their supporters to conduct their campaigns in a civil and decorous manner, devoid of inciting language, violence, voter inducement, and other infractions, as stipulated in the Electoral Act.
The Ondo State Governorship Election is widely anticipated to be a closely contested race, with the final list of candidates representing a diverse range of political ideologies and backgrounds. The publication of the list marks a significant milestone in the electoral process,