The Independent National Electoral Commission plans to meet on May 7, 2020 to review the situation in its offices across the country and adopt guidelines for resumption of activities in line with the announcement easing the lockdown in several states by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
In a statement signed by Festus Okoye, the national commissioner for information and voter education, on Thursday April 30, 2020, the commission said it also deliberated on preparations for the conduction of governorship elections in Edo and Ondo and upcoming bye elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Plateau when it met earlier the same day.
In view of these elections, he said INEC was “doing everything possible to observe critical protocols that will make for seamless and gradual restoration of normalcy.”
Okoye said the commission noted the advisory and protocols outlined by the Presidential Task Force on combating coved-19 on the gradual easing of lockdown from Monday May 4, 2020 and came a number of decision, which include the May 7 meeting.
He said, “The exact date for the step-by-step resumption of normal activities in the Headquarters, State and Local Government offices will be communicated to staff, our stakeholders and the public after the Commission’s meeting on on Thursday 7 May 2020.”
Staff earlier designated for the provision of essential services, Okoye said, would continue with their work, advising all stakeholders to wait for further communication on resumption of normal activities.