Edo Election: INEC seeks stakeholders’ collaboration

Prof. Rhoda Gumus, National Commissioner for Planning, Monitoring, and Strategy, made this appeal on Wednesday during an Election Risk Management workshop in Benin. She emphasized that conducting an election is a complex and extensive task that requires cooperation and coordination from various parties.

The workshop aims to familiarize participants with INEC’s electoral risk management framework and to identify both internal and external risk factors that could affect the election. Prof. Gumus highlighted that the conduct of elections requires substantial financial resources, expertise in diverse fields, and extensive planning and consultation.

She stated, “The Electoral Risk Management sensitization workshop seeks to expose participants to the INEC Electoral Risk Framework, identify internal and external risk factors that may be associated with the conduct of the governorship election in the state, and develop mitigating strategies.”

INEC’s constitutional role necessitates collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure a successful election. Prof. Gumus also noted that environmental dynamics can significantly impact elections, with potential threats linked to legal, operational, technical, political, socio-economic, and security issues.

Prof. Kunle Ajayi, Commissioner for Outreach and Partnership, emphasized the importance of security during elections and the need to identify potential flashpoints. He expressed confidence in the security agencies’ ability to manage election-related risks and violence.

Resident Electoral Commissioner Anugbum Onuoha added that effective risk management is crucial for conducting free, fair, and credible elections. The state’s Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, assured that his officers are prepared to provide adequate security on election day, with sensitization efforts for police officers already underway.