Edo, Ondo Guber Elections: INEC orders offices to reopen

As the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States draw closer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ordered the immediate reopening of its offices in both states.

A Facebook alert by the commission contained the “guidelines for resumption after the COVID-19 lockdown.”

INEC has stated that the initial dates the Edo and Ondo elections were scheduled (September 19 and October 10, respectively) cannot be postponed despite the COVID-19 pandemic, because of the deadlines provided by the constitution.

INEC staff have however been ordered to work three days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 8am and 2pm, while staff above 58 years with underlying medical conditions are to work from home.

“Ondo and Edo State offices should reopen immediately due to the upcoming gubernatorial elections in consultation with the relevant State Governments for issuance of necessary permits,” the advisory read.

“Funds required to meet the hygiene protocols (decontamination, hand sanitisers, etc) will be made available to these two state offices as soon as possible and to all other state offices as the need arises.

“All staff above age 58 with underlying medical conditions (hypertension, diabetes, asthma, renal and hepatic diseases) should work from home.

“Other staff with underlying medical conditions should work from home.

“Pregnant staff and nursing mothers should work from home.”

INEC asked state offices to “liaise with the various state COVID-19 response secretariats on decontamination protocols for their respective states.”[The Cable]