Stephen Enoch
The Aminu Kano Center for Democratic Studies (Mambayya House), Bayero University, Kano, on Friday, commenced a two-day refresher training for state electoral officers in preparation for the upcoming 2024 Local Government (LG) elections in Kano.
The training which is supported by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), is to equip electoral officers with the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure a smooth and transparent election process across the 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kano.
This comes just one week before the highly anticipated polls.
Professor Habu Mohammed, the Director of Mambaya House who facilitated the training emphasized its importance.
He shared optimism that the training would be significant in addressing past electoral challenges and ensuring a credible and fair election in Kano State.
“We want these officials to fully understand and perform their roles effectively during the elections. They must provide step-down training for other officials at lower levels to strengthen the process. This training is timely and is expected to yield better outcomes than previous elections,” Professor Mohammed said.
He, however, highlighted the recurrent issue of underage voting in Nigerian elections, stating that preventing this malpractice is a key priority.
“Underage voting has become a persistent problem in our elections, and we are committed to ensuring that only registered voters participate in this election. With over six million voters expected, this training is critical to making the process seamless,” he added.
Earlier, KANSIEC Chairman, Professor Sani Lawan, also addressed the gathering and outlined the training objectives.
“This program is designed to introduce best practices in election conduct and management among the officials, ensuring a hitch-free poll across the LGAs. We are confident that challenges recorded in previous elections will be prevented through this exercise.”
Prof. Lawan further stressed the need to eliminate underage voting and other electoral malpractices, noting that security forces are on standby to maintain law and order throughout the election process.
“Our security teams are ready, and we expect all electoral officers to remain neutral and fair to all participants, including citizens, observers, and journalists. We have trained them to resist any form of temptation whether financial or otherwise,” he said.
The KANSIEC Chairman called on political parties to conduct themselves with decorum, urging them to accept the election results in good faith.
“Political parties must behave responsibly, and whatever the outcome, they should embrace it with a sense of fairness.”
Bello Aliyu, an Assistant Electoral Officer from Dambatta LGA, expressed his appreciation for the training, noting its impact on his preparedness.
“So far, this training has equipped me with the tools to train the ad-hoc staff and ensure that we fulfill our responsibilities effectively. I’ve learned how to manage crises and handle potential challenges during the elections,” he said.
Fatima Haladu, an Assistant Electoral Officer from Tsanyawa LGA, also shared her expectations.
“I anticipate a peaceful and organized election, and with the knowledge gained here, I believe we are well-prepared to deliver a credible process. The cooperation of political parties and citizens is vital for success,” she added.
