Ekiti Guber: CLEEN Foundation Sets to Conduct Security Threat Assessment; Urges Peaceful and Credible Election

Oru Leonard

Ahead of the June 18, Governorship Election in Ekiti State, CLEEN Foundation is implementing block of interventions for the peaceful outcomes of the election. The Foundation is set to deploy the revised Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool it developed in collaboration with the Electoral Institute of INEC for the conduct of Security Threats Assessment across all Local Government Areas in Ekiti State, with a focus on thematic issues in the election. The findings will be used to engage stakeholders across board (INEC, NPF, Political Parties, CSOs, Youth and Women Groups, PWDs).

According to Ruth Olofin
Acting Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation will be training and deploying citizens’ observers across all the LGAs in Ekiti state to provide real-time reports of election activities with specific focus on the conduct of security agencies during the election. The observers will utilize the CLEEN Mobile App to collect the data and transmit it to the CLEEN Foundation Election Security Support Centre (ESSC) to be hosted at the CLEEN Foundation Headquarters located in the FCT, Abuja on Saturday 18th June, 2022.

The ESSC of CLEEN Foundation will host election and security experts to analyze security developments in Ekiti State that feed into the development of preliminary and post-election statements on CLEEN Foundation’s observations during the election. Incidences reported from our citizens observers will be verified and escalated to the appropriate government institutions including the Independent National Electoral Commission, Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force for the necessary actions. CLEEN Foundation also follows up to ensure these reports are attended to timely to prevent incedences of electoral violence.

CLEEN Foundation will also be hosting three (3) series of online discussions around emerging issues ahead of the Ekiti Governorship Election. These series will have key personnel from INEC, NPF, Political Parties, CSOs, Youth and Women Groups, PWDs and Critical Stakeholders as participants.

CLEEN Foundation has developed a comprehensive communication strategy towards the election for sensitization and visibility of various actions and interventions towards Ekiti Governorship Election.

CLEEN Foundation will also work closely with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in observing the elections on the ground for real-time update, escalation and addressing emerging issues during the election.

In the face of the heightened security concerns especially in Ekiti State, CLEEN Foundation calls on all actors and critical stakeholders to abide by the rules and regulations set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and by the security agencies led by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). CLEEN Foundation urges all registered voters who have collected their PVCs in Ekiti State to massively exercise their franchise for credible leaders to emerge.

May God bless Ekiti State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.