The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a three-day training workshop for Election Security Personnel (ESP) ahead of the Ekiti State off-cycle governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026.
The training, which began on Monday, May 11, 2026, is being held at the Hassanat Event Centre in Ado-Ekiti. It brings together security officers drawn from the 16 local government areas of the state under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
The programme is aimed at strengthening collaboration among security agencies and improving their preparedness for effective election security management before, during, and after the governorship poll.
Participants are being trained on election security management, crowd control, intelligence gathering, conflict prevention, professionalism, neutrality, and compliance with the Electoral Act and other relevant legal frameworks.
Speaking at the workshop, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael, urged participants to take full advantage of the training by paying close attention to resource persons and actively engaging in all sessions.
He said the success of the election would largely depend on the conduct, preparedness, and professionalism of security personnel deployed for election duties.
According to him, the knowledge and skills acquired would enhance election security operations and contribute to the professional development of officers involved.
Declaring the workshop open, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyidemi, expressed confidence in the capacity of security agencies to provide a safe environment for the electoral process.
He said a secure environment is essential for political parties to campaign freely, for voters to exercise their civic responsibilities peacefully, and for election officials to carry out their duties without intimidation or interference.
The REC also stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and strict adherence to rules of engagement throughout the electoral process.
He encouraged participants to contribute practical field experiences that could help security agencies identify and address potential threats ahead of the election.
Omoseyidemi further noted that proactive planning, early identification of flashpoints, and coordinated response mechanisms remain key to conducting a peaceful and credible election.
The training is expected to strengthen the capacity of security agencies and ensure a safer electoral environment for the Ekiti State governorship poll, in line with democratic principles and international best practices.
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