INTRODUCTION
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a policy guidelines and manuals that shall guide the conduct of elections even in the face of the deadline COVID-19 pandemic.
Notably, INEC is empowered by virtue of Section 160 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to by rules or otherwise, regulate its own procedure or confer powers and impose duties on any officer or authority for the purpose of discharging its functions. The Commission is also empowered by Section 153 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) to issue regulations, guidelines and manuals for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Act.
Meanwhile, there are fundamental stipulations contained in the manual which one is expected to know and they are summarized below.
PROTECTIVE MEASURES
According to the Manual, INEC declared that:
Use infrared thermometers at the Registration Area Collation Centres, the Local Government Area Collation Centres and the State Collation Centres.
The use of face masks is mandatory
The Commission shall provide face masks for all election officials
Alcohol based hand sanitizers will be provided for election officials at the polling units
Disinfection of the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) after the fingerprint of each voter is read to be done.
Physical distancing shall be maintained throughout the election process
Protocols issued by the NCDC, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, State Committees on COVID-19 shall be complied with
It shall engage relevant institutions to provide voluntary COVID-19 testing for INEC staff before and after deploying for elections.
It shall develop a protocol for dealing with persons who show symptoms of COVID-19 at election venues.
Anyone showing symptoms of C0VID 19 shall be immediately be isolated
LEGAL ISSUES
INEC will engage relevant authorities, including the legislature, to designate election as an essential service to enable the Commission function effectively in times of national emergency
INEC will engage with the legislature and other stakeholders to explore ways of responding to the rising cost of conducting frequent bye-elections.
The dates for the Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States remain 19th September 2020 and 10th October 2020 respectively.
Dates for the four postponed bye-elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Plateau States, as well as other bye-elections that become due during the COVID-19 pandemic will be announced by the INEC following its established procedures.
PRE-ELECTION ACTIVITIES
INEC recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to adversely affect her staffing for elections. Therefore:
INEC will engage immediately with NYSC and INEC State Offices to evolve modalities for corps members to serve as ad hoc staff in elections during the pandemic.
INEC’s State offices will commence identification of alternative sources of ad hoc staff in line with her policy, in case there are shortfalls.
INEC will ensure the use of electronic and non-contact means to recruit ad hoc staff by deploying its INECPres portal, as well as in notifying ad hoc staff of invitations and postings (for example, use of SMS) to prevent large gatherings at INEC offices during staff deployment.
INEC will reduce to a minimum interstate movement of staff, including ad hoc staff, for off-season and bye elections.
INEC shall ensure that transportation of election staff shall comply with COVID-19 containment protocols
ELECTION DAY ACTIVITIES
INEC has declared that:
In order to accommodate additional activities in setting up the Polling Units due to COVID-19, polls shall now commence at 8.30 am and close at 2.30 pm.
Face masks shall be mandatory at Polling Units and all election locations.
Any voter without a face mask shall be turned away from the Polling Unit.
Removal of mask may be required to prevent voter impersonation.
In order to prevent overcrowding during collation, only one polling agent of a party on the ballot (or the candidate in person) for the election(s) shall be allowed into the collation hall.
POST ELECTIONS
It is now mandatory for designated election staff to collect and deposit all Electoral Operations copies of results with their Supervisors within the prescribed time. Non-compliance shall be treated as dereliction of duty.
All post-election debriefings shall preferably be done electronically.
Where face-to-face debriefings take place, the protocols for COVID-19 prevention shall be followed.
ICT AND VOTER REGISTRATION
INEC has declared that it shall:
Suspend the Continuous Registration of Voters (CVR) for the time being to prevent the health risks associated with it in the context of COVID-19.
Pilot the use of Electronic Voting Machines at the earliest possible time (not for Edo and Ondo), but work towards the full introduction of electronic voting in major elections starting from 2021.
TRAINING
INEC has noted that officials would be trained on COVID 19 protocols for effective service delivery during the pandemic.
VOTER EDUCATION AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
INEC has declared that:
It shall engage NCDC and relevant stakeholders to ensure effective voter education through consistent means of dissemination of COVID 19 Protocols
It shall make extensive use of radio and television broadcasts in several languages on COVID-19 and the electoral process in a manner that balances the health risks of the pandemic and the civic responsibilities of Nigerians
It shall expand the channels available to citizens to reach the Commission with their concerns and suggestions, such as the Citizens’ Contact Centre, MyINEC App, etc.
POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTION OBSERVATION
INEC has declared that it shall create e-platforms for election and party monitoring activities
Accreditation and deployment of observers to be done electronically and therefore, it shall request and receive applications for election observation exclusively online.
Party Primaries and Campaigns are to be done:
i. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, INEC shall encourage political parties to develop appropriate Guidelines and Regulations for conduct of Party Primaries that take into account the COVID-19 prevention protocols.
ii. Where the Guidelines and Regulations are in conflict with the Constitutions of Political Parties and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Political Party Primaries, 2018, INEC shall draw the attention of the political party to the discrepancy.
SECURING THE ELECTORAL PROCESS
INEC shall regularly communicate any policy changes and any modifications to its procedure and process (pre-election, election and post-election) resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic to all Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) members.
The Commission in collaboration with security agencies and health authorities, shall review the content of the modules for training security officials on election duty to include COVID-19 specific content.
The Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) will mandate the State level ICCES to reassess existing security threats across the States and the implications of COVID-19 for such threats, training and deployment for election security.
