Political gatherings can be COVID-19 super-spreader, PSC warns

The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) has warned political parties to beware of the third wave of COVID-19 following the recent confirmation of more cases of the Delta variant in several states and the continued rising number of infections and hospitalization across the country.

In a statement issued by the chairman of the committee and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on Friday, the PSC called on all political parties, state governments, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC) to ensure strict compliance with the COVID-19 protocols in the conduct of all political events in the country.

It affirmed that political mass gatherings serve as super-spreader events for the propagation of COVID-19 infection in the communities.

“Such events must be carefully controlled to ensure maximum public safety in terms of risk of transmitting the infection among the vulnerable population,” the PSC admonished.

It reiterated the significance of the publicised INEC policy on the conduct of political events and the Code of Conduct for Voters and Political Parties within the context of COVID-19.

The PSC therefore cautioned all political parties to institute public health and social measures in all locations where political events will occur.

The PSC called upon all political parties, INEC and SIECs to ensure and enforce compliance to the extent possible of these provisions and other safety measures to protect the Nigerian population.