The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced training for security agencies in Nasarawa and Kwara States.
At the training, INEC called on security agencies to adopt new strategies in line with unfolding trends across the country to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free General Election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Nasarawa State, Dr Uthman Ajidagba urged the security personnel to see themselves as “critical partners”, in order to enhance a seamless execution of the electoral process for sustainable peace, good governance and the rule of law.
According to Dr Ajidagba, the success of the 2023 General Election depends largely on the performance of the security agencies; hence the need for them to be committed and remain apolitical in discharging their duties throughout the exercise.
On his part, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Maiyaki Baba stressed the need for stronger collaboration amongst all the security agencies in the state, especially in the area of intelligence gathering and information sharing during the elections.
In Kwara State, INEC also equipped security agencies with requisite skills to enable them perform diligently in the forthcoming elections.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Garba Madami said the conduct of a peaceful, free, fair and credible polls will just be a mirage without the involvement of security agencies.
Represented by INEC’s Kwara Administrative Secretary, Julius Yagba, he explained that it was necessary to intimate the security personnel on the provisions of the Electoral Act to enable them identify when any aspect is being bridged and the action to take.
Mallam Madami urged them to be attentive, ask questions about grey areas and pass on the knowledge to their colleagues who are to participate in the election.
Reporting by Chris Nyamtu and Rasheedat Iliyas; Editing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade, Abdullahi Lamino and Tony Okerafor