In a bid to adjust to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has released specific guidelines and protocols to be observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, voters and other relevant stakeholders in elections scheduled to take place in the country despite the pandemic.
Addressing members of the press and stakeholders at a media briefing organized by the Nigerian Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 in Abuja, the apex disease control agency through its Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, called on politicians and their supporters to employ other channels of campaigning for votes. He stated that the agency expects campaigning moving forward, to be mass media-driven, using virtual avenues such as television, radio, posters, mobile vans, social media, and other forms of communication to solicit support.
“There is a challenge we have in the way we have conducted our elections starting from the pre-election, during election and post-election. We advise adherence to guidelines on mass gatherings. Unfortunately, the virus doesn’t recognize whether we are conducting elections or whether we are in business settings. It just thrives wherever people come together,” he said.
Among other things, the agency also called for the use of face masks, temperature checks – individuals above 37.5 °C will not be allowed in, markers to ensure a distance of 2 metres, multiple hand-washing points, and a standby ambulance among other outbreak preventive measures during pre-election and main election activities.
How Plausible are Virtual Rallies?
While the idea of moving campaigns and rallies to the virtual space has its benefits, it would be naïve on the part of stakeholders if certain factors limiting its effectiveness are not fully considered. Despite having a large population of smartphone and smart device users, technology is not as penetrative as we think – with most of these users located in urban centres, leaving out voters in rural areas who are used to physical rallies. Likewise, the cost and unstable nature of internet data in Nigeria also impede the success of virtual rallies.
That being said, in the case of virtual rallies, the safety it offers, brings with it a certain level of exclusion that cannot be ignored.
This story is part of our new series on Nigeria where we analyse electoral reform in the country ahead of the next general elections in 2023.
