Edo 2020: INEC Expresses Concerns Over COVID-19

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the COVID-19 pandemic might disenfranchise many voters in the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.
, INEC Head of Voters Education and Publicity,Mr Timidi Wariowei expressed this concern yesterday in Benin.
He said that the commission had not been able to carry out the continuous voters registration exercise as well as the distribution of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) ahead of the election.
He spoke at a roundtable on the 2020 Edo governorship election organised by Centre for Democracy and Development in Benin.
The theme of the roundtable is “Issue at stake and their implications on the conduct of credible election”.
He, however, assured the electorate that INEC was fully ready to conduct a credible poll.
Wariowei noted that preparation had begun for the exercise while issue of fund was never the problem.
“The need to protect the people against the pandemic is placed above other interests.
“The continuous voter’s registration would have taken care of those that have attained the age of 18 years after the last execise and those that were unable to register for one reason or the other during the exercise.
“The Covid-19 pandemic didn’t allow us to also carry out distribution of the PVCs.
“We do not want to be accused unnecessarily or seen to be undermining the people, but for their own protection,” he said.
Wariowei said in spite of the challenges, election must be conducted in the state to avoid constitutional crisis.
He said the poll would be conducted by following the precautionary measures and maintaining social distancing by avoiding mass contact.
According to him, NCDC guidelines have been mainstreamed into the guidelines’ provided by the commission for the conduct of the governorship election.
“Every voter at the polling units must wear a face mask, if you don’t have face mask, you must at least have something to cover your nose and mouth to be allowed to vote.