COVID-19: INEC Releases Guidelines On Conduct Of Edo, Ondo Governorship Election (Full Document)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released guidelines for the conduct of the governorship elections in Ondo and Edo states in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

INEC noted that the guidelines are to make stakeholders conversant with procedures that will be used for the conduct of the elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to INEC, it will adopt electronic platforms for the submission of nomination forms by political parties in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

This online news platform reports Edo and Ondo Governorship Elections have been scheduled for 19th September and 10th October 2020 respectively.

It also added that face masks would be made compulsory for voters, electoral officials, and everyone else at all election locations.

It said the polling unit areas shall be redesigned to ensure substantial compliance with established protocols such as social distancing.

The guidelines were contained in a policy document signed by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman ahead of the conduct of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo.

“In order to accommodate additional activities in setting up the PU due to COVID-19, polls shall now commence at 8.30 am and close at 2.30 pm,” the commission said, adding that personal protective equipment and other safety materials shall be provided for polling staff,” the document noted.

It said infrared thermometers will be used at the various collation centres, alcohol-based hand sanitisers at the polling units for election officials while methylated spirit and cotton wool will be provided for the disinfection of the smart card readers after the fingerprint of each voter is read.

Check out the full document here.

Meanwhile, Naija News earlier reported that INEC also disclosed it is working on adopting electronic voting in Nigeria as from 2021.

An electoral act amendment bill seeking to make e-voting compulsory in elections, however, passed for second reading at the senate in November.