Security personnel deployed for the Ondo State governorship election on November 16 must swear an oath of neutrality, according to a statement released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
AFRIPOST reports that security personnel have been accused of favouritism on many occasions during past elections.
INEC said that the security officers, who will be drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Army, Nigerian Correctional Service, and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), among other agencies, must carry out their electoral responsibilities in a way that benefits the country amid the excitement surrounding the upcoming governorship election in Ondo.
Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), told reporters during a press conference in Akure, the state capital, on Monday that the commission has begun training security personnel participating in the election. A total of 11,799 people were chosen from different security units and formations in the state.
She underlined that to guarantee voter protection and a peaceful election, cooperation between the commission and security services must be fostered through this training.
“To ensure a secure electoral environment before, during, and after the November 16 governorship election, INEC has commenced the Election Security Personnel (ESP) training. This programme is designed for all categories of security personnel to be deployed at various stages of the election.
“A total of 11,799 of them are going to undergo a three-day training for the exercise. This training aims to equip our security agents with the necessary knowledge and skills to handle the unique challenges that may arise before, during, and after the election
“A total of 11,799 of them are going to undergo a three-day training for the exercise. This training aims to equip our security agents with the necessary knowledge and skills to handle the unique challenges that may arise before, during, and after the election.
“These security personnel who would be taking part in the conduct of the election would take an oath of loyalty and neutrality, and it is part of the electoral act to do it,” she said.
Babalola said that the electoral commission will provide the political parties access to the official voter registration and affirmed that INEC is ready to hold a free and fair election in the state.
In compliance with Section 10(4) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the Resident Electoral Commissioner emphasised that the political parties will be informed today of the 2,053,061 newly registered voters in the state.