The European Center for Election Support (ECES) says elections are not the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alone.
Mr Fabien Marie, ECES Representative stated this on Saturday in Port Harcourt at the end of a two-day training for security personnel on managing security during the forthcoming general elections.
“It should be the responsibility of every Nigerian to ensure that the forthcoming election is peaceful and credible,’’ Marie said.
He therefore urged security agencies and all stakeholders in Nigeria’s election project to work together for credible and peaceful election.
“We are very proud to be able to give our little support for the success of the electoral process, our joy will be that the process is successful in the end.
“I urge you to pass on the lessons you will learn from this training to other officers, and also put it to work during the election,’’ Marie said.
Speaking at the event, Ebo Efanga, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers, said that the training was important due to the critical role of security agencies in the electoral process.
“The arm which plays the primary role in the election is INEC; but the security agencies play a supportive role, which is critical to the overall success of the election.
“It is a training that will enable us tell the security agencies what is expected of them, we expect that they should be conversant with how elections are conducted,” Efanga said.
On his part, CSP John Ohanyere, a participant, described the training as timely and laudable.
Ohanyere said that the training was a reminder to the agencies of the basic rules and regulations guiding the conduct of elections. (NAN)