The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a three-day Training Workshop for Election Security Personnel (ESP) ahead of the Ekiti State Off-Cycle Governorship Election scheduled for 20th June 2026.
The training, which began on Monday, 11th May 2026, was held at Hassanat Event Centre, Ado-Ekiti, and brought together security officers drawn from the sixteen (16) Local Government Areas of the State. The participants are members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), saddled with the responsibility of ensuring a peaceful and secure electoral environment during the forthcoming election.
The workshop is designed to strengthen collaboration among security agencies and enhance their preparedness for effective election security management before, during, and after the governorship election.
The training focused on equipping participants with the requisite knowledge, operational guidelines, and practical skills needed to effectively cascade Election Security Personnel (ESP) training across various levels. Participants were exposed to critical areas such as election security management, crowd control, intelligence gathering, conflict prevention, professionalism, neutrality, and compliance with the Electoral Act and other relevant legal frameworks.
In his welcome address, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael, charged participants to maximise the opportunity provided by the workshop by paying close attention to the resource persons and actively engaging in all sessions. He noted that the success of the election would largely depend on the conduct, preparedness, and professionalism of security personnel deployed for election duties.
According to him, the knowledge and skills acquired during the training would not only improve election security operations but also contribute positively to the overall professional development of participants.
Declaring the workshop open, the Honourable Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyidemi, expressed confidence in the capacity and commitment of security agencies to provide a safe and conducive environment for the electoral process.
He stated that a secure environment remains critical for political parties to freely conduct campaigns, for voters to peacefully exercise their civic responsibilities, and for officials of the Commission, including ad hoc staff, to discharge their duties without intimidation, harassment, or interference.
The REC further emphasised the importance of inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and strict adherence to established rules of engagement throughout the electoral process. He encouraged participants to contribute practical experiences and field-based observations capable of assisting security agencies to proactively identify and address potential security threats associated with the election.
He stressed that proactive planning, early identification of flashpoints, and coordinated response mechanisms remain essential ingredients for the conduct of a peaceful, credible, and transparent election.
The workshop highlighted the critical role of security agencies in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and reinforced the need for professionalism, neutrality, respect for human rights, and synergy among all stakeholders.
The training is expected to lay a solid foundation for the successful conduct of the Ekiti State Off-Cycle Governorship Election in line with democratic principles and international best practices.
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