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Thu, Mar

INEC Decides On Edo And Ondo Polls

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC preparatory to the upcoming gubernatorial election in the southern part of the country specifically Edo and Ondo states, scheduled for later this year organized a meeting on Thursday, May 7, to deliberate on protocols for the resumption of activities and operations of the commission. National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye, said the decision to resume formed part of the resolutions reached at the end of a meeting held on Thursday.

Mr Okoye said the commission understood and appreciated the need for timely resumption of activities in view of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states and the by-elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Plateau states. The commission would be conducting by-elections in three constituencies as a result of the deaths of some serving members of the national and state legislatures. According to the commission, Edo election has been scheduled for September, while that of Ondo would hold in October.

According to Okoye, the commission will also resume engagement with political parties, civil society groups and organisations, the media and other stakeholders in relation to the Edo and Ondo state governorship elections. He also said the commission would issue comprehensive guidelines for the first phase of its resumption in compliance with the instructions issued by the federal government and health authorities, adding that these guidelines will be posted on its notice boards and uploaded on the website of the commission on Monday.

Speaking on resumption Okoye said: “Only staff below 58 years of age with no serious underlying health issues will resume, while pregnant women, nursing mothers and all other staff with underlying health conditions should remain at home for the time being.” The commission had earlier on suspended its services and shut its Abuja headquarters during the lockdown President Muhammadu Buhari ordered to check the spread of coronavirus.

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