The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), says it is going ahead with the April 18, local government poll, in spite of coronavirus scare.
ODIEC Chairman, Prof. Yomi Dinakin, said this on Tuesday while appearing before the state House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Akure on Tuesday.
Dinakin explained that there would be no postponement of the poll, adding that several measures would be put in place to check and protect voters from coronavirus during the election.
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He promised that there would be hand washing bowls, sanitisers and gloves to carter for voters during the election.
Danikin said that the commission would collaborate with the Ministry of Health to ensure the safety of its permanent and ad hoc staff before, during and after the poll.
According to him, electoral officials will only attend to 10 voters at a time in order to align with the government’s laid down rules on safety.
“During the training of ad hoc staff, arrangements were made to breakdown it down to manageable size in adherence to government directives.
“ODIEC is prepared and we are still moving with our timetable.
“Election is not a congregation of people, but how to manage those who will be on the queue so that we don’t encourage crowd and we provide some health facilities. So are hopeful of holding the election,” he said.
Mr Samuel Aderoboye, the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said that the House summoned the chairman to know the readiness of the commission towards the poll.
Aderoboye promised the commission that its request would be looked into for successful conduct of the election.