Ondo 2024: NSCDC Equips Officers Ahead of Tomorrow’s Election
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Command, has equipped its officers with the necessary skills to address emerging issues related to the election, as the state prepares for its gubernatorial election tomorrow. This was part of a one-day workshop held in Akure, the state capital.
The workshop focused on critical issues such as vote trading, child abuse, child labor, gender-based violence, and human trafficking.
The Ondo State Commandant of NSCDC, Commandant Ibiloye Oluyemi Joshua, emphasized the need to curb vote buying and selling, a significant issue plaguing the electoral process.
“We are trying to sensitize our desk officers in all local governments to look out for those who are out to sell votes and those who aim to buy them,” he stated.
According to him, the NSCDC plans to deploy officers, including additional personnel from ten neighboring states, to ensure a secure election environment in Ondo State.
“We are actually bringing in personnel from the National Headquarters in about ten neighboring states to Ondo. These states will be supplying about 4,000 personnel, in addition to the 2,000 we already have here on the ground. In total, about 6,000 personnel will be deployed for the election,” Joshua said.
The commandant urged the people of Ondo State to take responsibility for their political future by voting according to their conscience.
The Programme Manager of the Justice Development and Peace Maker Center (JDPMC), Osogbo, Festus Ojewunmi, welcomed the workshop initiative, emphasizing the importance of security agencies in preserving the integrity of the electoral process.
Ojewunmi highlighted the challenge of poverty, which he believes contributes to the prevalence of vote-buying, and encouraged citizens to reject financial inducements and vote for leaders who would serve their interests honestly.
The Assistant Secretary of the Child Protection Network (CPN), Mrs. Dada Juliet Oluwatoyin, described the workshop as an “eye-opener,” lauding the NSCDC’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful election. Oluwatoyin encouraged voters to make informed decisions at the polls and reject vote-buying and other forms of election malpractice.
In her remarks, the Safe School Coordinator for NSCDC, Ondo State Command, SC Yemi Elizabeth Agbede, said, “The workshop became necessary to equip the safe school desk officers across the divisions with the requisite knowledge to ensure a safe learning environment. Of course, since the gubernatorial elections were just a few days away, they were also equipped with the knowledge to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, credible, and inclusive election, free from vote buying and the disenfranchisement of vulnerable groups.”
Mrs. Adenike Olugboyega of the Balm of Gilead Foundation (BIGIF) focused her presentation on “Ondo State as a Case Study,” exploring the gender dynamics before, during, and after the elections and the implications for gender equality in political participation both during and after the election process.
The representative of the NAPTIP Ondo State Command, Mr. Ariyo Francis, spoke on human trafficking, victim identification, and profiling. He commended the NSCDC for the great work they are doing in combating the trafficking of persons.
Other speakers at the event included SC Victoria Lawal, SC Omoba Olusegun Philip, DSC Catherine Akinribido, and DSC Erifeyiwa Oluwatomiyin Funmilayo, who facilitated on child abuse & child labor, understanding the safe school initiatives, school registration on the NSSRCC portal and its technicalities, and efficient response to gender-based violence, respectively.
