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The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on Thursday reminded the leadership of political parties, especially those contesting the Chereponi bye-election, to abide by the Political Parties Code of Conduct, 2008, which they themselves had prepared and signed. �Bearing in mind the violence that nearly marred the Akwatia re-run and mindful of the fact that the Chereponi bye-election is highly competitive, it is important that all political actors keep faith with the Code they themselves prepared and signed and be constantly guided by them,� it said in a statement signed by Mrs Jean Mensa, Administrator of IEA. IEA referred particularly to provisions pertaining to campaigning and elections and said it was dispatching an advanced team of observers to assist its regional enforcement body to monitor compliance with the code. �Reports on breaches and violation will be made known to the appropriate bodies and the public,� IEA said. Quoting several portions of the code, IEA reminded them that political parties, their members and agents must desist from carrying arms and offensive weapons and the display of same during the period of campaigning and that no two parties shall hold public meetings or rallies in the same locality on the same day, if such meetings or rallies are likely to be so close to each other that a possibility of creating conflict arises. The code says no political party, members and agents or candidates shall resort to the use of abusive or inflammatory language or incitement to hatred on the basis of gender, ethnicity, religion, creed, sect or any other criteria. It says political parties shall actively discourage members from engaging in all forms of election malpractices and they shall not engage in confrontation or open argument with election officials at the polling stations. IEA called on the Electoral Commission to once again uphold its independence and professionalism exhibited so far and also urged the security agencies to ensure and uphold public law and order without fear or favour. It also called on registered voters in Chereponi to be law abiding and adhere to the provisions of the code, saying �as citizens, they should refrain from acts of thugery, violence and intimidation before, during and after the bye-election�. Five parties � National Democratic Congress, New Patriotic Party, People�s National Convention, Democratic Freedom Party and New Vision Party are contesting the bye-election.