INEC Fixes Date To Meet Over Edo, Ondo Governorship Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday said it would meet on May 7 to deliberate on important issues that were put on hold and those that emanated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The commission said top of its agenda will be to access the situation in its offices nationwide, the preparation for the gubernatorial poll in Ondo and Edo and the upcoming bye elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Plateau States, and plans for resumption of normal activities will be considered.

In a statement by its  National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in Abuja, the commission said it would also, at the meeting, come up with a framework and guidelines for resumption of activities.

Okoye said that the commission  the advisory and protocols outlined by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on combating COVID-19 on the gradual easing of lockdown from May 4 and decided as follows:

“The Commission will meet on Thursday, May 7, to review the situation in its offices across the country and adopt a clear road map and guidelines for resumption of activities in line with the announcement by the PTF.

“The exact date for the step-by-step resumption of normal activities in the Headquarters, State and Local Government offices will be communicated to staff, our stakeholders and the public after the Commission’s meeting on Thursday, May 7.

“Staff earlier designated for the provision of essential services are to continue with their work.”

Okoye, however, advised all stakeholders to wait for further communication from the commission on resumption of normal activities.

 

He said the commission understood and appreciated the need for timely resumption of activities in light of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states and the bye-elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Plateau states.

He said INEC was doing everything possible to observe critical protocols that would make for the seamless and gradual restoration of normalcy.

INEC had on March 23, suspended all regular and non-essential activities at its headquarters and offices nationwide as part of its control measures against the spread of the Coronavirus.

The commission said that the decision was in the best interest of measures to its staff, visitors and the general public.

Okoye promised to keep the public abreast of developments as they concern the electoral process.

(NAN)