INEC Holds Methodology Workshop On EVMAT For Kogi 2023 Governorship Election
Oru Leonard
As the 11th November 2023 Kogi Governorship Election approaches, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Commission through the Research and Documentation Department of The Electoral Institute (TEI) organised a workshop on Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool (EVMAT). The workshop which described the EVMAT as a life-saving exercise is designed and structured to train field agents that will collect empirical data from across the Twenty One (21) Local Government Areas of the State which will be analysed to identify possible hotspot ahead of the election.
The workshop held at the EdgeDrive Hotel on Friday, 22nd September 2023 commenced with the introduction of all participants. The methodology workshop, aimed at training field data collection agents with the requisite skills for the deployment and administration of the standardised EVMAT Instrument.
Present at the occasion is the DG of The Electoral Institute, Dr Saad Umar Idris, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Kogi, Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet, was ably represented by the Kogi State Administrative Secretary (AS), Shehu Abdul Baba. Director of Research and Documentation, Prof Ibrahim Sani, and the TEI Administrative Secretary, Tunde Ojedokun.
The DG TEI, while delivering his welcome and opening remarks appreciated the Hon. Chairman INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and the Chair, Board of The Electoral Institute (BEI), Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru and the entire members of the Commission for their leadership and commitment to credible, free, fair, and peaceful elections. He, informed participants at the workshop that the event has been designed and geared towards equipping each with necessary skills for effective deployment of the EVMAT ahead of the Kogi State Governorship Election. He stressed that successful risk mapping can only be achieved using accurate data.
Dr Idris urged participants to pay attention and acquire the proper skills for effective deployment of the tool at the various local governments in the State. He stressed that the essence is to help the Commission take adequate security measures and ensure peaceful governorship elections in the state.
The DG also enjoined them to give their utmost best to the success of the exercise as they were carefully selected for the survey and that the data gathered will be analysed and report forwarded to the Commission for onward sharing with security agencies and other strategic partners on election security.
Presenting the goodwill message of the REC, the Administrative Secretary (AS), Shehu Abdul Baba, assured participants of the state’s readiness for the election and urged them to collect accurate data for peaceful Kogi 2023 Governorship election. The REC admonished the participants to be committed to the assignment.
(INEC Media)
