'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – As preparations intensify for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for November 16, 2024, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a three-day training program for electoral security personnel. The training, organized by The Electoral Institute (TEI), aims to equip security agencies with the skills and professionalism required to ensure a peaceful, free, and credible election in the state.
The training session, held at ICAN House, Akure, Ondo State, was declared open by the Chairman of the Board of the Electoral Institute (BEI), Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru. In an address read by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Ondo State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, Prof. Zuru emphasized the importance of creating a secure environment for voters to participate freely in the election. He called on security personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism to ensure the safety and credibility of the electoral process.
"The objective of this training is to ignite a high level of professionalism in our security personnel, ensuring that the November 16th election is conducted in a free, fair, and inclusive manner," Mrs. Babalola said on behalf of the BEI Chair. She further called on security agencies to collaborate closely, share intelligence, and establish a robust security framework to prevent electoral violence and vote buying.
Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Abayomi Oladipo, also addressed the participants, underscoring the importance of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) framework. He noted that the training would enhance the professionalism of security personnel, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle any challenges that may arise on election day.
Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris, Director-General of The Electoral Institute, welcomed participants to the workshop, stressing the collective responsibility of INEC and security agencies to conduct free, fair, and credible elections. He emphasized the importance of security in ensuring the smooth movement of electoral staff, voters, candidates, and observers, adding that effective security measures would enhance the credibility of the election process.
Participants at the workshop were drawn from various security agencies under the ICCES umbrella in Ondo State, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Prisons Service, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Department of State Security (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The workshop also saw the participation of key INEC officials, including the Director of Training, Dr. Binta Kasim Mohammed; Director of Research and Documentation, Prof. Ibrahim Sani; Commandant of the NSCDC at INEC Headquarters; Assistant Controller of the Fire Service; and INEC Ondo State Administrative Secretary, Mr. Biodun Onikate.
The training commenced with a pre-test to assess participants' knowledge, followed by a series of lectures and interactive sessions aimed at enhancing their understanding of their roles in securing the electoral process. Key topics included strategies for mitigating electoral violence, intelligence sharing, and combating vote buying at polling units.
The Ondo State governorship election is set to take place on November 16, 2024, with INEC and security agencies working in tandem to ensure a secure and transparent electoral process.