The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a three-day training workshop for Election Security Personnel ahead of the Ekiti State off-cycle governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026.
The training began on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the Hassanat Event Centre in Ado-Ekiti, bringing together security operatives drawn from the 16 local government areas of the state.
Participants are members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), tasked with ensuring a peaceful and secure environment before, during, and after the election.
The workshop is aimed at strengthening collaboration among security agencies and improving preparedness for effective election security management ahead of the governorship poll.
According to organisers, the training also focuses on equipping participants with operational guidelines, practical skills, and updated knowledge required to cascade election security training across various levels.
Areas covered include 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 event, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael, urged participants to take full advantage of the training by actively engaging resource persons and paying close attention to all sessions.
He noted that the success of the election would largely depend on the conduct, preparedness, and professionalism of deployed security personnel.
“The knowledge and skills acquired during this training will not only improve election security operations but also contribute to your professional development,” he said.
Declaring the workshop open, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyidemi, expressed confidence in the ability of security agencies to provide a safe environment for the electoral process.
He stressed that a secure atmosphere is essential for political parties to campaign freely, for voters to exercise their civic rights without fear, and for INEC officials and ad hoc staff to perform their duties without intimidation or interference.
“The importance of inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and strict adherence to rules of engagement cannot be overemphasised,” the REC stated.
He also encouraged participants to share field experiences that could help security agencies identify and respond proactively to potential threats ahead of the election.
The workshop further emphasised professionalism, neutrality, respect for human rights, and stronger synergy among security stakeholders as key requirements for credible elections.
The training is expected to strengthen operational readiness and support the peaceful conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election in line with democratic standards and international best practices.