17 political parties will participate in Ondo council election

[caption id="attachment_811" align="aligncenter" width="283"] Gov Olusegun Mimiko during accreditation, in
Ondo.[/caption]AHEAD of the April 23 local government elections

in Ondo state, seventeen political parties have

signified their intention to participate in the

election.

The state chairman of the Independent Electoral

commission Prof Oluwole Ige and the inter-Party

Advisory Council( IPAC) stated this in Akure yesterday. Prof Ige said that plans have been concluded to

conduct a free and fair elections come April 23.

Also addressing newsmen, the IPAC publicity

secretary Oluwole Fagboro said the political parties

have clearly indicated their readiness to

participate in the coming election.

Fagboro denied that some members of the council

have declined to participate in. The election.

He listed the parties to include AA, AD, ADC, AP,

APA, APGA, CPP, DPC, LP,MPPP,PDC.PDM, PDP,

PPN and UDP .

According to him “ the coming election is a big

opportunity for us to showcase our individual

political party’s strength in contemporary

democratic process.

We must commend the Ondo State Independent

Electoral Commission (ODIEC) for setting the ball

rolling by setting guidelines and timetables for the

local government elections which is fixed for April

23, 2016 after much expectations for this over the

years.

“It is our joint decision to express implicit

confidence on the integrity of the Commission and

all activities connected with the coming election.

“We have no doubt on our mind that the

Commission would provide a level playing ground

where all political parties will exercise their

democratic rights.

“We cannot but also commend the Ondo State

government under the leadership of Governor

Olusegun Mimiko for providing the enabling

environment under which the coming election

would be held.

“In view of our readiness and preparedness to

participate in the election, we, the

aforementioned political parties, had submitted

the list of councillorship and chairmanship

candidates to ODIEC.

“The candidates have accordingly been screened by

the ODIEC. We are doing all our best to ensure

peace, harmony and order before, during and

after the election.

“We, therefore, want to use this opportunity to call

on all parties to continue to embrace peace as they

organize activities that would culminate in the

election.

“We also appeal to all election stakeholders to

discharge their duties well knowing full well that

the prosecution of a credible election is the duty

of all.

“As we all know, election is not a do or die affair.

This attitude should be embraced by all during the

local government and other elections coming up .