Nigeria, Sept. 19 -- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it cannot force voters to abide by COVID-19 health rules in the ongoing polls in Edo State.

It was reacting to reports of voters flouting the COVID-19 protocols at the governorship election.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how election officials and voters in the ongoing election, had largely ignored the warnings by both the health agencies and the election umpire.

In a phone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, on Saturday, the INEC's spokesperson, Festus Okoye, said INEC cannot force people to comply with precautionary measures "after several warnings it had issued".

He added that the conduct of an election "is a collective responsibility and as such, people ...