From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has organised a Methodology Workshop On Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool (EVMAT), for field officers on the September, Edo Governorship election.
Speaking at the workshop, the Chairman, Board of the Electoral Institute (BEI), Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, said EVMAT training is for the field agents towards the conduct of the Edo Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday 21st, September 2024.
He added that the Commission in its characteristic meticulous approach to planning and execution of its preparation for elections, has scheduled the workshop to equip its field agents with the requisite knowledge and skills on the use of one of “our key election protection tools, the EVMAT.”
According to him, “there seems to be an erroneous notion in the Nigerian political space that violence is a helpful route to winning elections. The Commission is therefore, geared towards making election a thing of joy where winners and losers celebrate together.
“It is because of this that the Commission decided to take its Field Agents through this training process to be able to gather useful qualitative, quantitative and geospatial data that will enhance the utility of the EVMAT.
“Please, always keep in mind that EVMAT is about saving lives, safeguarding the electoral process and delivery of fair, free, credible, peaceful and inclusive election,” he cautioned.
Earlier, the Director General Electoral Institute (TEI), Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris, explained that EVMAT is a well-designed and standardised survey tool programmed to elicit views and perceptions of the citizenry on possible triggers of electoral violence.
“TEI deploys the instrument to identify potential hot-spots and flash points to guide the Commission, Election Security Personnel and other Electoral Stakeholders.
“Note, therefore, that successful risk mapping can only be achieved using accurate data.
“The Commission is committed to conducting the Edo and Ondo States Governorship Elections in September and November 2024, in a secure environment,” he averred.
