An interest group, Governors Mandate Network (GMN), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure compliance with the COVID-19 prevention protocols during the forthcoming Edo and Ondo elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in February, fixed the governorship election in Edo for September 19, while that of Ondo State was fixed for October 10.
The Chairman of GMN, Mr Osaro Onaiwu, made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
He stressed the need for political parties to ensure strict compliance with the protocols established by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to prevent further spread of coronavirus before and during the governorship elections in the two states.
According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic is still very active in the country, adding that political parties and politicians must not be careless in their activities so as not to endanger the lives of Nigerians under the guise of electioneering.
Onaiwu said that the world was watching INEC on the way and manner it wanted to go about the governorship elections scheduled for September and October in Edo and Ondo states respectively.
“Anything short of a modest election process that will ensure minimum mass gathering will not be acceptable to health-conscious people,” he said.
