Nineteen political parties are set to participate in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, according to the state's Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola. Babalola announced that these parties have formally notified the commission of their intent to participate and have also informed the commission about the conduct of their primaries for the election. The list of participating parties includes the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Accord Party, the Action Alliance, the African Action Congress, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the African Democratic Party (ADP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
During a meeting with representatives of political parties in Akure, Babalola emphasized the importance of adherence to guidelines and rules. She underscored the need for parties to uphold the principles of internal democracy to minimize tensions and potential post-primary disputes. The commissioner urged parties to conduct their primaries peacefully, orderly, and transparently to ensure the credibility of the process.
The governorship election is scheduled to hold from April 6 to 27, and the commission has received formal notification from the political parties regarding the conduct of the election. Babalola reiterated that the meeting was an avenue for engagement with political parties on the forthcoming primaries, emphasizing the critical role of parties in ensuring the success and integrity of the electoral process.
