By Joy Odor
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through the Electoral Institute (TEI) has commenced training for Electoral Security Personnel ahead yof Ondo State governorship election on 16 November, 2024.
The Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute (BEI) Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru who declared the training open in Akure, Ondo State informed that the training aimed to bring out the best and ignite high level of professionalism in the Security Personnel in ensuring free, fair, credible and inclusive elections and democratic consolidation.
Zuru reiterated the need for the security to mitigate vote buying at the Polling Units and tasked security personnel to ensure a safe Electoral environment for citizens to freely participate in governance.
The BEI Chairman charged security agencies to synergize and share intelligence to provide a robust security architecture for the forthcoming Election.
Contributing, the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Abayomi Oladipo noted that the training would enhance professionalism of Security agents deployed on election duty.
In his speech, the Director General of the Electoral Institute, Alhaji Sa’ad Umar Idris challenged the participants for adequate Security, ensuring the free movement of electoral staff, voters, candidates, observers and other stakeholders on Election day which adds to the credibility of the electoral process.
According to him, the Training is geared to build a mitigation strategy for improved Election Security and also to enable participants identify the core role of security agencies at elections.
He therefore highlighted the synergy between INEC and Security agencies and urged participants to give attention to the training as the mandate to conduct free, fair, credible and inclusive Elections in Ondo State is a collective responsibility.
