By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – To ensure smooth conduct of future elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Plateau State, has commenced capacity building for its staff and political stakeholders in the State.
Speaking during the opinion remarks, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, (REC), Dr. Oliver Agundu, said the training is to enhance the skills and capabilities of INEC state actors and other stakeholders who are critical in election execution.
He said the training will ensure that electoral personnel are not only well-prepared but also equipped to uphold the integrity and efficiency of the country’s electoral processes and procedures.
Delivering a lecture in a one-day workshop held at the INEC headquarters in Jos, Wednesday, Agundu tasked participants to ensure that credible elections are essential for resilient democracies.
He said seriously flawed or failed elections pose a potent risk to political stability and democracy.
“This workshop therefore seeks to contribute in the building of the requisite capacity for leaders at all levels of the electoral management”.
He continued: “Capacity building is critical for Electoral leaders to effectively navigate political pressure, deliver elections in crisis, and foster institutional independence, resilience and capacity”, he said.
The lecture titled: “Leadership and Capacity Building For Effective Electoral Management”, postulates that training programmes and resources for electoral leaders include a proven high-impact, executive leadership curriculum, with peer engagement and networking opportunities.
It added that technical assistance is focused on ethical leadership, with strategic communications, crisis and risk management.
“Unique capacity-building approach is bolstered by a roster of former executive and senior election officials with decades of comparative electoral leadership experience”, Agundu stressed.
He explained that conducting credible elections, sustaining quality electoral processes over time and demonstrating resilience in the face of crisis requires effective leadership.
“Strong electoral leadership is also essential to resolve protracted challenges that prevent meaningful electoral reforms that undermine the independence of election institutions that subverts the electoral process”, he said.
The lecture which gave an insight of understanding the idea of electoral management revealed that an independent and impartial body charged with implementing elections is an important means of ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
“An effective electoral management body responsible for implementing much of the electoral process, can enable the participation of voters and protect the democratic process”.
The INEC boss took time to encourage participants to shun activities inimical to the objectives of the commission, pointing out some new challenges that have changed the playing field for leaders as well as management bodies.
“Malign and self-serving actors who seek to manipulate and undermine elections are increasingly nimble in leveraging social media and technology. Election leaders need innovative approaches and greater capacity to respond effectively”, Agundu said.
Responding, the Chairman of the Plateau State People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Chris Hassan, laud the Commission for coming up with the initiative of training staff and stakeholders even when elections are not on sight.
He said the coming of the REC in the State has changed the Commissions way of conducting elections in the past, stating categorically that the 2023 general elections was a testament of the people’s choice to vote for their desired leader.