The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to
proceed with the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.
Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this on
Saturday during its first virtual meeting with Resident Electoral
Commissioners (RECs).
According to Yakubu, just like every other national institution
in Nigeria, “the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our
activities”.
He noted that for instance, further engagement with the National
Assembly and stakeholders on electoral reform as well as the
conduct of some off-season elections had to be suspended because of
the global health emergency.
But the INEC boss said thankfully, the PTF has now issued
guidelines on protective measures for the gradual restoration of
normalcy nationwide. On that basis, he noted that the Commission
recently released its own policy on conducting elections in the
context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Commission is convinced that electoral activities can
resume but in full compliance with the advisory issued by health
authorities.
“Consequently, the end of tenure Governorship elections in Edo
and Ondo States scheduled for 19th September 2020 and 10th October
2020 respectively will proceed as planned.
“While the Commission takes the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, our
democracy and electoral process cannot be truncated for this
reason, particularly because health authorities have advised on
measures to protect the public from the virus, including all those
involved in elections,” Yakubu added.
According to him, already, some of the registered political
parties have notified the Commission of the dates for their party
primaries leading to the nomination of their candidates for the two
elections.
In addition to the two governorship elections, the Commission is
also making preparations to conduct nine legislative bye-elections.
Already, vacancies have been declared by the Senate President in
respect of four Senatorial Districts (Bayelsa Central, Bayelsa
East, Imo North and Plateau South). Similarly, the Speaker of the
Nasarawa State House of Assembly has declared the seat for Nasarawa
Central State Constituency vacant. Information reaching the
Commission also indicates the existence of vacancies for the Cross
River North Senatorial District, Nganzai and Bayo State
constituencies of Borno State and Bakori State constituency of
Katsina State.
“The Edo and Ondo Governorship elections, as well as the five
Senatorial and four State Assembly bye-elections, are spread across
nine states of the Federation involving a cumulative number of 62
Local Government Areas (LGAs); 687 Registration Areas (RAs); 9,149
Polling Units (PUs) and 6,454,950 registered voters. Put in the
context of our sub-region, the number of registered voters for
these off-season elections is equivalent to holding General
Elections in Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde
put together,” the INEC boss said.
He, therefore, stated that the Commission is determined to hold
some of the bye-elections ahead of the two major Governorship
elections to enable it in test running and fine-tuning its modified
processes in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The commission says it is also studying reports of recent
elections conducted under the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in
places such as Mali and South Korea, for any lessons that will
strengthen our processes and protect all those involved.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to
proceed with the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.
Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this on
Saturday during its first virtual meeting with Resident Electoral
Commissioners (RECs).
According to Yakubu, just like every other national institution
in Nigeria, “the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our
activities”.
He noted that for instance, further engagement with the National
Assembly and stakeholders on electoral reform as well as the
conduct of some off-season elections had to be suspended because of
the global health emergency.
But the INEC boss said thankfully, the PTF has now issued
guidelines on protective measures for the gradual restoration of
normalcy nationwide. On that basis, he noted that the Commission
recently released its own policy on conducting elections in the
context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Commission is convinced that electoral activities can
resume but in full compliance with the advisory issued by health
authorities.
“Consequently, the end of tenure Governorship elections in Edo
and Ondo States scheduled for 19th September 2020 and 10th October
2020 respectively will proceed as planned.
“While the Commission takes the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, our
democracy and electoral process cannot be truncated for this
reason, particularly because health authorities have advised on
measures to protect the public from the virus, including all those
involved in elections,” Yakubu added.
According to him, already, some of the registered political
parties have notified the Commission of the dates for their party
primaries leading to the nomination of their candidates for the two
elections.
In addition to the two governorship elections, the Commission is
also making preparations to conduct nine legislative bye-elections.
Already, vacancies have been declared by the Senate President in
respect of four Senatorial Districts (Bayelsa Central, Bayelsa
East, Imo North and Plateau South). Similarly, the Speaker of the
Nasarawa State House of Assembly has declared the seat for Nasarawa
Central State Constituency vacant. Information reaching the
Commission also indicates the existence of vacancies for the Cross
River North Senatorial District, Nganzai and Bayo State
constituencies of Borno State and Bakori State constituency of
Katsina State.
“The Edo and Ondo Governorship elections, as well as the five
Senatorial and four State Assembly bye-elections, are spread across
nine states of the Federation involving a cumulative number of 62
Local Government Areas (LGAs); 687 Registration Areas (RAs); 9,149
Polling Units (PUs) and 6,454,950 registered voters. Put in the
context of our sub-region, the number of registered voters for
these off-season elections is equivalent to holding General
Elections in Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde
put together,” the INEC boss said.
He, therefore, stated that the Commission is determined to hold
some of the bye-elections ahead of the two major Governorship
elections to enable it in test running and fine-tuning its modified
processes in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The commission says it is also studying reports of recent
elections conducted under the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in
places such as Mali and South Korea, for any lessons that will
strengthen our processes and protect all those involved.