The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that 13 political parties have shown interest in participating in the forthcoming by-election for Akoko Northeast/Northwest federal constituency in Ondo state scheduled for February 3.

The political parties which include; the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), the National Rescue Movement (NRM) and Action Peoples Party (APP), among others, would be fielding their candidates for the exercise to fill the vacant seat of the federal constituency.

One of the candidates of the political parties is expected to replace Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, a former member of the House of Representatives, who represented the Akoko Northeast/Northwest federal constituency in the National Assembly before his appointment as minister of interior by President Bola Tinubu.

Oluwarotimi Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo, who disclosed this in Akure, said the political parties participating in the exercise have submitted the schedule for the conduct of their primaries in compliance with the provision of section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Mrs Babalola revealed that the federal constituency, where the contest would be taking place consisted of two LGAs, 23 registration areas, 329 polling units, 171,491 registered voters, and 145,755 permanent voter cards collected.

“(The) Parties are advised to shun all forms of violence and unguided utterances to reduce tension and heating up the polity.

“On our part, we commit to transparency, fairness, impartiality and inclusivity which has remained our guiding principles as well as high ethical and professional standard for delivery of free, fair, credible and transparent elections,” she said at a stakeholders’ meeting with leaders of the political parties in Akure.

While appealing to all political parties to entrench internal democracy by abiding strictly to election guidelines in conducting the primaries, Mrs Babalola said the electoral body was committed to conducting a free, fair and credible by-election exercise.

She, however, urged the participating political parties to ensure peaceful conduct of their primaries by maintaining a high standard of election process as issued by the INEC in the conduct of the exercise.

“Please note that the deluge of pre-election cases is due to non-adherence to the constitution and guidelines of political parties in the conduct of primaries and congresses” she noted

According to her, “Let me state here that the responsibility of safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process in the state rests on our shoulders.

“As we prepare for the forthcoming bye-election, it is imperative for us to recognize the significance of our role as custodians of democracy, noting that the choices , we make will shape the future of the state and its people.

“In the spirit of inclusivity, l urge you to actively mobilize voters by engaging in voter education and awareness, empowering the electorate with knowledge about their rights and responsibilities and the power they hold with their votes in shaping their destiny and not commercialize their votes through vote-buying.

Remarking, the state chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Olaoluwa Adesanya, assured the commission of its cooperation, especially for credible conduct of the poll, just as he appealed to the electoral body to ensure voting materials arrive early on the election day.