European Centre for Electoral Support urges Nigerian security forces to remain non-partisan

INTERNATIONAL election group the European Centre for Electoral Support (Eces) has advised Nigerian security agencies to display highest sense of professionalism in handling matters during the forthcoming general elections taking place next month.

 

On February 16, Nigerians go to the polls to elect a president in what is looking like a straight fight between President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In the run-up to the elections, ECES has been organising training workshops for election workers and security personnel.

 

Rudolf Elbling, the project coordinator of Eces Nigeria, urged security personnel who would be deployed for the elections to act in accordance with rules and regulations guiding policing the exercises. He 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.

 

Mr Elbling added: “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 expanses 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.

 

“Elections, no doubt, are 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 as this will inspire the confidence of the general populace in the electoral process."

 

In addition, Mr Elbling said that provision of security for Nigerians during elections was important for a transparent and credible exercise. He expressed optimism that the two-day training seminar Eces provided would improve the conduct of the police and other security forces in the conduct of credible elections.

 

“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 organising elections, including deployment and retrieval of materials, in a secured environment and voters also require a peaceful environment to be able to come out and vote during elections without fear of intimidation and harassment," Mr Elbling added.

 

He pointed out that the training exercise was held concurrently in the six geo-political zones of the country. In line with convention, international election observes will be deployed to Nigeria to oversee the elections.

 

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