The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has explained the framework to be followed for the conduct of elections in Edo and Ondo States .
INEC in a statement issued by it National Commissioner for Information and voter education, Festus Okoye said the modalities and policy will be presented on the 25th of May 2020.
INEC explained that it is satisfied with the guidelines for the polls in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. This development was made known in a statement issued in Abuja.
The statement reads…
The Independent National Electoral Commission met today 21st May 2020 and approved its policy on conducting elections in the context of COVID19 pandemic. The general purpose of the policy is to enable officials and staff of the commission to understand and respond adequately to the challenges of conducting elections in the context of the COVID19 pandemic and to provide a guide for engagement with stakeholders as they prepare for elections.
The clean copy of the policy document, which will be released on Monday 25th May 2020, cover health and legal issues, election planning and operations, election day and post-election activities, voter registration, political parties, election observation, electoral security and deployment of technology
Nigeria’s electoral umpire noted that it is committed to conducting polls as at when due, but while doing so, it priotizes the safety of citizens in other not to hamper the battle against the scourge. Voters have been assured of their safety will exercising their franchise
“The commission remains committed to raising public confidence in the electoral process, in spite of the challenges, posed by the pandemic and to regularly communicate it actions and challenges to the public stakeholder engagement”
Edo and Ondo State elections have been scheduled for 19th September and 10th October 2020. Engagements will be flagged off by INEC with those it considers as critical stakeholders to the polls to present the policy document
Below is the list of events:
“Resident Electoral Commissioner on Saturday, 30th May 2020; political parties on Monday, 1st June 2020; civil society Groups on 2nd June 2020 and the media 3rd June 2020. Conduct of bye-election “It is to be noted that in addition to the Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, the commission has received the official declaration of vacancies for 4 senatorial Districts and read reports of the passing of a Senator and 4 members of some State Houses of Assembly “
The electoral commission is planning for nine bye-elections across seven states of the Federation which are Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Imo North Senatorial District, Plateau South Senatorial District, Cross River North Senatorial District, Nganzai State Constituency and others.
The commissions appealed to Nigerians to obey to the latter the preventive measure against the infectious disease given by the authorities.
