Admin l Friday, May 22, 2020
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved a policy it hopes to deploy in the conduct of elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Titled “Policy on Conducting Elections in the Context of COVID-19 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 COVID-19 pandemic and to provide a guide for engagement with stakeholders as they prepare for elections”, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman,
Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye said in a statement.
The clean copy of the INEC Policy on COVID-19 elections , which will be released on Monday 25th May 2020, covers 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.
The statement added that conducting elections in a pandemic such as COVID-19 is a new development with only very few jurisdictions having the experience.
“That notwithstanding, the Commission is committed to conducting all elections that are due within the extant legal framework. However, in so doing it will put a premium on public safety and mitigation of health risks from COVID-19. Citizens must be assured that they will be safe while participating as voters, candidates and officials”, Festus Okoye said, adding that 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 its actions and challenges to the public.
INEC said it will flag off stakeholders engagement on the policy document ahead of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States scheduled for 19th September 2020 and 10th October 2020 respectively, starting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Saturday, 30th May 2020; Political Parties on Monday, 1st June 2020; Civil Society Groups on 2nd June 2020; and the Media on 3rd June 2020.
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CONDUCT OF BYE-ELECTIONS
The commission noted that in addition to the Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, it has received 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.
He explained that as at today, the Commission is planning for nine (9) bye-elections across seven (7) States of the Federation as follows: Bayelsa Central Senatorial District , Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Imo North Senatorial District , Plateau South Senatorial District, Cross River North Senatorial District, Nganzai State Constituency, Borno State, Bayo State Constituency, Borno State, Nasarawa Central State Constituency, Nasarawa State and Bakori State Constituency, Katsina State
“The provisions of the Policy on Conducting Elections in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic shall also apply to the conduct of these elections”, he said and urged all Nigerians to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocols issued by the health authorities.
