INEC to train 1.4m effectively and qualitatively to ensure a free and fair vote
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Up to 1.4 million ad hoc staff will be trained by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) preparatory to the general election in 2023 for which a raw 95 million are on the voters’ register.
The training was disclosed at a workshop in Lagos organised by the Institute for INEC Press Corps on the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC Processes, Innovations, Preparations for the 2023 General Election.
“We will train about 17,685 Supervising Presiding Officers; Presiding Officers/Assistants Presiding Officers (176,846×4) 707,384; about 11,083 Collation Officers; about 12,991 Registration Area Technical Officers; about 20,000 security officers; and 6,009 Registration Area Centres Managers,” Institute Director General Sa’ad Idris explained.
He said the training will be done with commitment to delivering free and fair elections in 2023.
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Effective and qualitative training
“I would like to reiterate that the training of poll officials towards the conduct of the 2023 general election is one of the critical pre-election activities that must be tackled with utmost tact and commitment,” Idris added, per The PUNCH.
“The Institute, I can assure you, is poised to play its role to ensure that all ad hoc staff are effectively and qualitatively trained.
“The Commission’s goal to deliver a free, fair, credible, and inclusive election in 2023 is achievable by devotion, action, purposefulness, commitment, and patriotism on the port of the Commission and every stakeholder.”
INEC insists on e-transmission to prevent vote rigging
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu reiterated at the workshop that Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of results will be strictly adhered to in the 2023 ballot to prevent rigging.
Yakubu doused concern expressed by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) which alleged secret plans by politicians to stop BVAS and e-transmission of results to enable them rig the vote.
CUPP also alleged a lawsuit has been filed at the Owerri Federal High Court to perfect the plot.
Yakubu, represented by INEC National Commissioner and Information and Voter Education Committee Chairman, Festus Okoye, insisted the goal of INEC is electoral justice to ensure voters have electoral fulfilment.
He pledged INEC would continue to use technology to improve and enhance the credibility of elections.
“The Commission is conscious that a credible voter register is a basic requirement for the conduct of a credible election. We have therefore devoted time and energy to cleaning up of the voter register using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).
“This process is almost finalized and the Commission will engage with stakeholders relating to its findings before displaying the register for claims and objections as required by law.
“Furthermore, the Commission is working out a protocol for seamless collection of Permanent Voters Cards [PVCs] by valid registrants.
“I want to assure Nigerians that the Commission will deploy and continue to deploy appropriate technology for the conduct of elections.
“The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IreV) will be deployed for the conduct of the 2023 general election.
“We will continue to use technology to improve and enhance the credibility of elections in Nigeria. Our goal is electoral justice where every Nigerian will experience electoral fulfilment.”
