By Bola Adeyemi
A European Union (EU) agency, The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) in Nigeria, has tasked security agencies to show very high level of professionalism in dealing with security matters in the country’s forthcoming general elections.
ECES’s Project Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Rudolf Elbling, gave this admonition at a two-day workshop on election security on Friday in Abuja.
Elbling advised security personnel who would be on duty during the elections to act in accordance with rules and regulations guiding policing the exercises.
He harped on the critical role of security agencies in securing the electoral process, emphasizing that such assignment had become more challenging in view of reported cases of security breaches in parts of the country.
According to him, “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 training was held concurrently in the six geopolitical zones of the country.