Edo Election: EU, INEC reacts to electoral process at polling units

The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) says voters in Ologbosere primary school, ward 4 with 40 units and other polling units they visited weren’t observing the COVID-19 protocols as stipulated in the INEC policy.

The Deputy Project Coordinator, Mr Wilson Manji, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, that although the voters were all wearing a face mask, they didn’t maintain social distancing.

According to Manji, the polling officers came with hand sanitisers and thermometers to check the temperature of every voter.

He said: “So far, the election is going smoothly and calm. We’re at Ologbosere primary in Ikpoba-Okha local government area of the state.

“So far, everything is peaceful and calm here. Just that the INEC staff just arrived at about 10 am and accreditation and voting started at about 10.30 am. instead of 8:30 am.”

Also reacting, Timidi Wariowei, the Head, INEC Voter Education and Publicity, told reporters at INEC office in Benin City that most of the polling units and voting points started voting at 8:30 am.

“But we’re aware that there are some few isolated cases that started at 9 am or after 9 am because of some issues they needed to sort out,” He said.

“From the reports, we’re getting. Almost all the polling units have started voting.”

Wariowei, however, said he observed that the voters were all wearing face masks but didn’t maintain social distancing.

According to Wariowei, before I left the polling units I visited, I educated the people on the need to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 guidelines by maintaining social distancing for the safety of all.