The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), during the weekend in Edo state, said voters in most wards and polling units have failed to comply with COVID-19 guidelines as stipulated in the INEC policy.
Mr Wilson Manji, the deputy project coordinator noted that although the voters were all wearing face masks, they did not maintain social distancing.
“So far, everything is peaceful and calm here. Just that most voters are not complying with INEC protocol on Covid-19, although the polling officers came with hand sanitisers and thermometers to check the temperature of every voter”, he stated.
The Head, INEC Voter Education and Publicity, Timidi Wariowei, told newsmen at INEC office in Benin that most of the polling units and voting points started voting at 8.30a.m.
“But we are aware that there are some few isolated cases that started 9.a.m. or after 9.a.m. because of some issues they needed to sort out.
Wariowei, however, said he observed that the voters were all wearing face masks but did not maintain social distancing.
According to Wariowei, voters were educated on the need to adhere strictly to the Covid-19 regulations by wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing for the safety of all, yet many failed to comply.