‘Voters must adhere to NCDC guidelines’ — Cross River fixes May 30 for LG poll

The Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) says it will conduct the state’s local government election on Saturday.

Voters will elect 18 local government chairpersons and 196 councillors.

The exercise suffered a number of delays, and the last being in March during the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

In a notice, Mike Ushie, CROSIEC chairman, said the process would be a “one man one-vote election” and loitering of voters would not be entertained at polling stations.

“Notice is hereby given to all citizens of Cross River state that the 2020 local government elections earlier scheduled to take place on March 28, 2020, shall now take place on May 30, 2020,” Ushie said.

“That all citizens of the state are called out to vote and be voted for as it shall be a one man one-vote election.

“Accreditation and voting will start by 8.00 a.m. on that day and close by 3.00 p.m. to give room for collation. All movement on that day would be restricted except those on essential and election duties. Markets and shops shall remain closed within the period.

“Voting shall take place at all polling stations, and no loitering shall be entertained at such zones. Security agencies are hereby requested to maintain adequate security throughout the period.

“All must adhere strictly to precautionary measures stipulated by the NCDC such as the use of face/nose mask, hand sanitizers/washing of hands as well as maintaining physical distance.”

So far, the state has not recorded any COVID-19 case.

In its last update on the number of samples tested across the country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Cross River has only tested seven.