CLEEN Foundation launches Election Security Support Centre for Edo & Ondo elections

LAGOS, Nigeria – CLEEN Foundation has launched what it called Election Security Support Centre for governorship elections coming up in Edo and Ondo States.

Already the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed 19th of September  and 10th of October 2020 for the elections in Edo and Ondo State respectively with a requirment  for political parties to hold primaries from 2nd to 27th of June and 2nd to 25th of July 2020 for Edo and Ondo State respectively.

To this end, CLEEN Foundation has launched the election security  centre for the two states to conduct security threat assessments and deplol Tella Application, an ICT-based human rights platform for mapping of security risk factors across the states through real time observation, documentation and analysis of accredited observers’ reports on the conduct of security officials during the elections,  CLEEN foundation said in a statement by its Executive Director, Mr. Benson Olugbuo, PhD.

He said the foundation will conduct security threat assessments in the states to support key stakeholders, especially INEC and security officials with empirical data for the deployment of manpower and other resources for the elections. 

“In addition, the foundation will recruit, train and deploy volunteers across all the local government areas in both states to observe, document and report in real time, security incidents and threats to the upcoming elections”, the foundation said, adding that it  will also collate, analyze and disseminate the findings to relevant stakeholders before, during and after the elections.

Also to be deployed by the foundation is Tella Human Rights Monitoring Application, an ICT-based human rights platform for mapping of security risk factors across the states through real time observation, documentation and analysis of accredited observers’ reports on the conduct of security officials during the elections.  

“The Tella Application will be scripted with key questions from the Electoral Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool (EVMAT) developed by the Electoral Institute of the Independent National Electoral Commission and CLEEN Foundation with support from the UK Department for International Development. 

“The Electoral Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool was developed by electoral stakeholders as part of the efforts to have a standardized tool for assessing election-related security threats by stakeholders”, CLEEN Foundation said, adding that it is important that security officials on election duty in Edo and Ondo States maintain peace and order and protect  voters to exercise their right to vote.

Based on the peculiarity of the election holding during COVID-19,  CLEEN Foundation is of the view that INEC should work with the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control to review COVID-19 regulations related to the conduct of elections during the pandemic.

Besides, it has adviced INEC to ensure that Civil Society organizations interested in observing the elections including party primaries are duly accredited. 

“Security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission should collaborate with the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control to develop a guideline on policing elections during a pandemic.

“There should be specialized training for security personnel to be deployed for election duty under COVID-19 pandemic to ensure optimal performance. Political parties should ensure that their primaries are free, fair and inclusive”, the foundation said, stressing the need to prioritise citizens living with disabilities in Edo and Ondo to ensure that they vote in dignity.

“The National Orientation Agency and other government institutions should intensify efforts in sensitizing and educating citizens in Edo and Ondo States on how to exercise their franchise while following government guidelines on physical distancing

“The Media, both print and electronic should be given free hand to perform their duties and should be protected from overzealous security agents and political thugs”, CLEEN Foundation said, adding that there is an urgent need to provide personal protective equipment for security officers deployed on election duty during COVID-19 pandemic with priority placed on their welfare.