Nasarawa Central Bye-Election: Give Electorate Face Masks Not Salt And Sugar-NOA Directors Tells Politicians
Rabiu Omaku
Politicians in Nasarawa State has been called upon to focused on the safety of electorate in this critical moment of coronavirus pandemic by providing face mask instead of salt and sugar.
The State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Priscilla Gandor Alaur insisted, she gave the advice during a stakeholders meeting with politicians, security agencies ahead of August bye-Election to filled the vacant position of the Nasarawa Central Constituency following the demised of the occupant,Suleiman Musa who died as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
She emphasized on the need for politicians to consider the safety of electorate first before any other thing due to the increasing cases of coronavirus.
NOA Director in the State said the provision of face mask in the bye-election became necessary so as to prevent what happened in Burundi during the country’s electoral process which led to death of many people including the former President and many others.
Priscilla however said political parties and politicians should also assist in providing sanitizers, soap and water.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Othman Abdulrahman in his speech urged individual to take responsibility of their safety while appreciating the Joint Security agencies present at the meeting.
He opined that the COVID-19 protocol must be fully observed during what he described as a pilot election during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Only electorate with face mask would be allow to vote during election”.
The former Chairperson of the National Centre for Women Society, Aisha Idoma pleaded with the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure early arrival of electoral materials at polling units.
“It would be sucidal to keep people under the scorching sun with face mask for hours without attending to them”.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nasarawa State Council, Comrade Salihu Alkali appreciate the electoral umpire for organising the meeting which he described as timely.
He advised the INEC to organised an interactive session with Journalists covering the State, he said the interactive session with the press would go a long way in educating the masses on the danger of coronavirus and the need to abide by the pandemic protocol.
The State Chairman of ruling political party, The All Progressives Congress represented by the Organizing Secretary, Hassan Abubakar applauded the electoral umpire for organizing the stakeholders meeting.
He urged INEC to provide Personal Preventive Equipment to electorate and other frontline workers in next month bye-election.
The State Commissioner of Police, Bola Longe threatened to arrest any electorate that breach the COVID-19 social distancing protocol, saying the police in the State would not take it likely with group of politicians found of flouting an order.
He warned self-seeking politicians and thugs to organize themselves by shunning act that would disrupt electoral process.
Longe said the Nasarawa State Police command would deploy size able number of police to the election.
