The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shut down for two weeks in a bid to curb the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
According to Okoye, all regular and non-essential activities are suspended in its headquarters and offices nationwide for 14 days to curtail the spread of the disease.
He added that all regular quarterly meetings with Stakeholders have been suspended, noting that the electoral body took the decision in view of the preventive measures put in place by the Federal and State Governments.
Okoye noted that the health and wellbeing of all INEC staff, officials and the general public are of paramount importance to the Commission.
He stressed that the new measures taken do not affect the activities for Edo and Ondo governorship elections scheduled for 19th September and 10th October 2020 respectively.
Okoye added that the Commission has taken some extra measures to protect its staff, visitors and the general public and in line with the advisory on social distancing from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The statement read: “Effective from Tuesday 24th March 2020, all regular and non-essential activities will be suspended in its headquarters and offices nationwide for 14 days in the first instance.
“The regular quarterly meetings with Stakeholders, namely: Political Parties, Civil Society Organisations, the Media, Security Agencies and all other meetings, have been suspended until such a time when normalcy returns.
“In addition, the Commission will no longer monitor the conventions, congresses, conferences or meetings of political parties until further notice.”
Okoye reiterated the Commission’s commitment to openness, consultation and continued communication with its stakeholders and expects all to understand the emergency situation that informed the suspension of contact engagements.
The INEC Commissioner, however, noted that notwithstanding the measures outlined, the Commission will continue to meet via non-physical contact channels while communication between the Commission and its stakeholders will remain open.
