Imo governor: INEC educates election risk managers and security personnel

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has conducted training sessions for security personnel and other important stakeholders, focusing on the identification and mitigation of actions that have the potential to incite violence during the upcoming governorship election in Imo State, scheduled for November 11th.

The Commission additionally urged the stakeholders to actively oppose any endeavors that could undermine the endeavors to fulfill the electoral and general expectations of the electorate and the residents of Imo.

The aforementioned statement pertains to a communication that occurred during a single-day educational event, known as a sensitization workshop, which was arranged by the Commission on Elections Risk Management. The training was specifically designed for senior election officers, Civil Society Organizations, the Media, and security services inside the state.

The workshop, which took place at Greatwood Hotels in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, was organized by Prof. Sylvia Agu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Imo State.

Professor Agu emphasized the significance of the workshop, highlighting that the thorough awareness and instruction of key participants are vital for the execution of reliable electoral processes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State expressed that, in order to ensure the integrity of elections, it was deemed essential for the Commission to convene various stakeholders involved in the electoral process. The objective was to collaboratively establish a security architectural framework that could effectively address both internal and external elements that may pose challenges to the electoral process.

Therefore, the INEC office located in Owerri has made the decision to organize this workshop with the aim of formulating mitigation methods and providing participants with an understanding of the INEC electoral risk framework.

Professor Agu emphasized the importance of devising proactive measures to effectively address any instances of violence or threats to the electoral process.

The speaker emphasized that security plays a crucial role in the electoral process. Furthermore, the Commission is taking action by mobilizing the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Security (ICCESS) to ensure the provision of essential security assistance prior to and throughout the exercise.

The program included participants from several organizations such as the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Defence (NSCDC), Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Directorate of Security Services (DSS), and the National Women Society Council of (NCWS), among others.

The participants were allocated into three Senatorial Districts of the state in order to examine the unique risk factors and create a comprehensive data set and statistical analysis for the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The topics discussed included risk management in elections, the use of ERM tools, the identification of risk causes, indicators, and risk levels, as well as the implementation of risk prevention measures in the specific senatorial district.

In a post-workshop interview, several participants expressed their commitment to collaborating with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in order to facilitate the upcoming state election on November 11th, with the aim of ensuring the highest level of fairness, freedom, and credibility in its conduct.