Ondo Guber: INEC publishes final list of candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates and their running-mates for the November 16 Ondo State governorship election.

This was revealed in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.

He explained that INEC state and local government offices in Ondo have released the personal information of candidates and their running-mates.

This include, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), which were replaced.

Olumekun said in line with the provision of Section 33 of the Electoral Act, 2022, 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 their running-mates by the deadline of June 10.

He also disclosed that five parties; 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), replaced their running-mates only.

“Overall, 17 political parties are fielding candidates for the election. 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.

“The list has been published at our office in Akure and also uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information,” he said.

With the conclusion of the nomination process, he continued, political parties were now permitted to start public campaigns from Wednesday (June 19) till the midnight of November 14.