NAOSRE, National Association of Online Security Reporters has commended security operatives assigned to the Edo State governorship election.
The Edo governorship election held on Saturday, September 2020 with minimal security breaches, skirmish here and there notwithstanding.
The commendation came in a statement signed by NAOSRE’s Acting President, Favour Benson. In the statement, Benson noted that officers and men of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army, Civil Defence and other security agencies exhibited an appreciable degree of professionalism. She stressed that laws and orders were maintained during and after the election.
The Acting President praised the security operatives for its relative neutrality before, during and after the election.
STATEMENT
Benson said, “We applaud the security operatives for their fairness and relative neutrality in the conduct of the elections.
NAOSRE observed that security agents resisted the temptations to be manipulated into subverting the wishes of Edo voters.
“In the same vein, NAOSRE congratulates Deputy Inspector General of Police, Adeleye Oyebade for leading successful security operations in Edo which has been adjudged by international observers as peaceful and fair.”
However, Benson reinstates NAOSRE’s advocacy on the basis that electoral security must be human-centered. The advocacy is in line with the association’s mission to support citizens’ freedom to participate in free and fair elections.
“Security agents must therefore, develop a holistic approach to security coverage of all phases and activities of electoral process. So approach must conforms to international standards and norms governing elections.
“Ahead of Ondo October 10 governorship, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to support training and funding of security operations. This will generate an improvement in electoral conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution as rooted in international instruments and standards.”
Benson maintained in the statement that the association remains committed in developing media skills to foster dialogue and cooperation on nonpartisan projects by promoting social harmony and a nonviolent political culture. “NAOSRE will continuously identify root causes of electoral violence and offer media supports to diffuse tension where possible for a better Nigeria,” Benson said.
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