The European Centre for Electoral
Support (ECES), Nigeria, has advised security agencies to display highest sense
of professionalism in handling security matters in forthcoming general
elections in the country.
Project Coordinator, ECES
Nigeria, Mr Rudolf Elbling, gave the advice at a two-day training workshop on
election security on Friday in Abuja.
He urged security personnel who
would be deployed for the elections to act in accordance with rules and
regulations guiding policing the exercises.
Elbling said that security
agencies had critical roles to play in securing the electoral process, adding
that such assignment had become more challenging in view of reported cases of
security breaches in parts of the country.
“The issue of security is indeed
very complex in a vast country like Nigeria where election personnel and
materials have to be deployed across large expanse of land and sometimes,
difficult terrain.
“It is my hope that this training
will improve the skills and strengthen the commitment of security agencies to
promptly respond to cases of security threats before, during and after the 2019
elections.
“Election, no doubt, is a
sensitive and complex operation.
“It is, however, our expectation
that the security forces will display the highest sense of professionalism in
handling issues of election security and maintain a friendly and non-partisan
disposition.
“This will inspire the confidence
of the general populace in the electoral process,’’ he said.
Elbling said that provision of
security for Nigerians during elections was important for transparent and
credible exercise.
“Conducting hitch-free and
credible election requires a peaceful environment devoid of threats to lives
and properties.
“Election officials can only
discharge their responsibilities of organizing elections, including deployment
and retrieval of materials, in a secured environment.
“Voters also require a peaceful
environment to be able to come out and vote during elections without fear of
intimidation and harassment,’’ he stated.
The coordinator said that the
training was held concurrently in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
He expressed optimism that the
training would improve the conduct of the Police and other security forces in
the conduct of credible election in Nigeria.
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