The Independent National Electoral Commission has released prerequisite to be met by political parties before holding public rallies for the Edo and Ondo state governorship polls.
The commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman (Information and Voter Education Committee), Festus Okoye, told PUNCH before holding any rally, political parties must give INEC a seven-day notice.
It was learnt that INEC issued these guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the rallies.
Okoye told The PUNCH that INEC had informed political parties that their guidelines for campaigns must conform with the NCDC protocols, including social distancing and use of face masks.
His words, “Political parties are encouraged to develop appropriate guidelines for the conduct of rallies and campaigns taking into consideration all the guidelines and protocols developed by health authorities at the national and state levels.
“Where there are conflicts between political parties’ guidelines on the conduct of rallies and campaigns and those issued by the commission, the commission shall draw the attention of the political parties to the discrepancies.”
Okoye added that campaigns by parties shall be based on their published manifestos and shall comply with the provisions of regulations issued by the commission.
