COVID-19: Buhari govt issues guidelines for elections
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has issued guidelines for the conduct of elections in Nigeria, amid the Coronavirus pandemic.
NCDC Director-General, Chikwe Ihekweazu said the country’s electoral stakeholders must comply with protective measures like avoiding mass gathering, ensuring social distancing.
Ihekweazu also urged electoral stakeholders to ensure hand hygiene and mandatory use of face masks.
Speaking during a Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 on Monday, in Abuja, Ihekweazu warned that the virus thrives in mass gatherings, hence such should be limited during elections.
The NCDC boss urged politicians to use the mass media in their political campaigns.
He said: “Today we are announcing and launching a new guideline for the conduct of elections during the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria.
“Therefore, we have developed this guideline to support everyone involved – parties, INEC, but most critically, Nigerians that will be going to vote in these difficult times.
“As we know, the virus thrives in mass gathering, so there is a challenge we have in the way we have conducted our elections – pre-elections, during elections and post-elections. So, in doing this guideline, we try and offer advice on how to do this safely.
“We strongly encourage the use of television, radio, mobile vans, social media and other forms of communication as our politicians solicit votes.
“We advise careful adherence to mass gathering guidelines.
Unfortunately, the virus doesn’t recognise whether we are conducting elections, religious gatherings or business settings – it just thrives when people come together.
“We have provided specific guidelines for these settings and none of them will be surprising and we’ll be explicit about it.”
Despite the outbreak of COVID-19, governorship elections would soon be conducted in Edo and Ondo States.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s COVID-19 toll currently stands at 29, 286.
This followed NCDC’s confirmation of 575 new cases on Monday.
Ok
Its well
Nice one
Thanks for the update.
Oka
Okey
It’s well
Ok
Okay
Ok
Nice update
Fine
Okay
Hmmmm
Thanks
Wow
Thanks
Good one
Ok
Thank you
Very good
Really
Are you sure their don’t want or bring in strategy of riggin election
Mice 🐭
Ok
which election ohh.You mean that of 2020?
They should follow the guidelines required to prevent the rapid spread of the virus by the NCDC while planning for the elections.
Its alright
Very good
Nice update
Great
Ok
Fine
Really
alright
It’s well
Mercy of God we need
Very good
Really
Ok
I hope it won’t conflict with INEC guidelines.
Hummm
Thanks for these updates
Okay
All know …
Updated
Okay
Nice Update
Good news
Okay
Good
Ok
Are you sure
Ok
Hmmmm
Okay
Good
Ok
Nice one
Guidlines to be follow
That’s good
Who cared
Okay
Great news
ok
ok
Okay
Okay
Alright
Kk
Ok
Good one
Okay
Ok
Okay
Ok
Making progress amist this pandemic
OK oo
Okay
Great
Ok
We there be election in this pandemic