The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said the methodology workshop for field officers that would be on duty for the Edo governorship election, was to equip them with the requisite knowledge and skills on the use of one of the key election protection tools- Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool (EVMAT).
Speaking at the workshop, the Chairman, Board of the Electoral Institute (BEI), Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, said it was an erroneous notion in the Nigerian political space that violence is a helpful route to winning elections.
Prof. Zuru stated that the commission was, 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 delivering fair, free, credible, peaceful and inclusive election,” he cautioned.
Earlier, the Director General Electoral Institute (TEI), Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris, explained that EVMAT was 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 stated.