By Gabriel Ewepu, Abuja

Ahead of the Edo State governorship elections, scheduled for September 21st 2024, Yiaga Africa has commenced training of personnel for observer duties.

This was made known in a statement signed by the Director of Programmes for Yiaga Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, which was a two-day two-day intensive training for its local government supervisors drawn from the 18 LGAs of Edo State.

According Mbamalu, the training, which was held in Benin City, the Edo State capital was to ensure that supervisors ensure accurate, simplified, and data-driven reportage of pre-election activities in their various LGAs to promote citizens’ participation in the process.

Also they were trained on the Process and Results Verification for Transparency, PRVT, methodology that is used in the election observation process.

She also said the training of the supervisors was from June 27-28 under the #WatchingTheVote project, which is supported by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, and aims to build citizens’ confidence in elections that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will conduct.

Meanwhile, according to the statement, she assured that #WatchingTheVote will provide credible, independent, and objective information on the process and outcome of the election, therefore, urged participants to be non-partisan and objective in their reporting of pre-election activities.

She said: “This training is important for helping you understand the DOs and DONTs of observing the pre-election activities in the state which include security related issues, INEC activities in the state, voter education and violence monitoring.”

She also stressed the need for the supervisors to ensure they provide accurate and impartial reports, and also focused the training on other vital areas including violence monitoring, election day procedures, election observation tips and best practices, and how to administer and report the election observation checklist.

She also explained that the PRVT methodology employed under the #WatchingTheVote Initiative is aimed at providing all stakeholders in elections, including the public, with credible, independent, and objective information on the conduct of the election.

The methodology is based on sound, time-tested statistical principles and uses a representative sample of polling units. This ensures that the #WatchingTheVote Initiative can provide the most comprehensive and accurate picture of the election process in Edo State devoid of bias, and which can truly reflect voting patterns and conduct on election day.

Meanwhile, the #WatchingTheVote team also paid advocacy visits to election stakeholders including the Edo State Commissioner of Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State to share some of Yiaga Africa’s activities in the State and to seek areas of collaboration that will ensure free, fair, and credible elections.

During the visit to the Commissioner of Police, the team informed the top cop that #WatchingTheVote observers will observe pre-election activities such as violence monitoring, security-related issues, political party activities, and INEC preparations.

In his response, the Commissioner of Police , CP Funsho Adegboye, mni expressed readiness of the police as they are prepared for the election and assured provision of adequate security to protect the citizens and electorates.

Adegboye also tasked Yiaga Africa to intensify its efforts in carrying out voter education across the State to encourage and mobilize the people, shun violence before, during and after the elections.

A highlight of the visit was the presentation of an award to Yiaga Africa by the Edo State Police Command for its contribution to democracy and credible elections.

The team was received during the visit to the INEC office in Edo State by its Head of Elections and Political Parties, Mr Akpoguma Emmanuel, where it shared some of YIaga Africa pre-election activities in the State as well as its deployment plan for the election.

In his response, Emmanuel shared details of INEC’s ongoing activities in the state and the plans being put in place to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.

He mentioned that INEC is making efforts to ensure that the voter registration centers are more suitable and accessible for the election.

Additionally, he emphasized the need for Yiaga Africa to share its pre-election observations with INEC, as this information will aid in planning and mitigating election risk factors.