The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says all regular and non-essential activities will be suspended in its headquarters and offices nationwide for 14 days in the first instance.
The suspension is to take effect from Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
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in a statement issued by the National Commissioner in-charge of Voter Education And Publicity Committee, Festus Okoye, the Commission said the suspension order is in view of the Coronavirus pandemic and the preventive and containment measures put in place by the federal and state governments and in line with the advisory on social distancing from the World Health Organisation, WHO, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, to protect staff, visitors, and the general public.
The Commission said the regular quarterly meetings with political parties, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies and all other meetings, have all been suspended until such a time when normalcy returns.
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The statement further noted that the Commission will no longer monitor the conventions, congresses, conferences, or meetings of political parties until further notice.
It, however, restated its commitment to openness, consultation, and continued communication with its stakeholders and expects to understand the emergency situation that informed the suspension of contact engagements.
INEC, however emphasised that the new measures taken do not affect the activities for Edo and Ondo governorship elections scheduled for September 19 and October 10, 2020, respectively.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
