By Joy Odor
Independent National Electroal Commission (INEC) Electoral Institute (TEI) has commenced a 3 day Training of Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) today 3rd September, 2020.
This is sequel to the Successful Conduct of the Training of Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) and in preparation for 2020 Edo State Governorship Election scheduled for 19th September, 2020.
The objective of the 3 days training is that at the end of the training, participants would demonstrate ability to organize and conduct Polling and Counting Procedures and effectively perform the electoral duties of POs/APOs in line with the First Supplementary Guidelines and Regulations to the Conduct of Elections and the INEC Policy on Conducting Elections in the Context of COVID -19 Pandemic.
The training is being conducted simultaneously in all the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State.
The training started with Registration and Opening formalities and Participants are a mix of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, Ex-Corpers and Final year students of Federal tertiary Institutions in the State.
The ground rules for the Training was set before the administration of pre-test while the participants would be taken through Nine (9) modules using appropriate methodology such as Discussions, Presentations, Question and Answer Sessions and Simulations.
Topics include Polling Day and Time, Code of Conduct for Electoon Personnel, the Polling Team and their functions.
Election Materials, Polling Procedures, Closing of Polls would also be treated. Operating the Smart Card Reader (SCR) will be a major focus of the Training so as to equip participants with the skills to accredit voters.
There will also be a Mock practice of the Revised Accreditation Process which involves the use of the SCR for Accreditation of Voter.
The snapping and upoading of Polling Unit Results using the (Zpad) for Public view would also be discussed.
Other topics to be treated include Sorting and Counting/Recording of Votes, Discussion on the Polling Unit booklet and a Simulation of the processes and procedures on Election day activities will also be performed by the participants.
The Training would also highlight the Voters Code of Conduct for Elections during the COVID -19 Pandemic.
The Training is being monitored by Hon. National Commissioners (NCs) AVM MU’AZU, AMINA BALA ZAKARI AND MOHAMMED KUDU HARUNA in addition to one EXTERNAL BEI MEMBER, DR. MRS MARY NWOGU.
Highlights of the PO/APO Training from across the 18 Local Government Areas:
