The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the training of Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) on Polling and Counting Procedures in preparation for Gwaram Federal Constituency bye-election in Jigawa State, scheduled for June 19th, 2021.
The three days training which commenced on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 is organized by the Electoral Institute.
At the end of the training, participants are expected to demonstrate the ability to understand Polling and Counting Procedures and effectively perform the electoral functions of POs/APOs in line with the First Supplementary Guidelines and Regulations to Elections and the INEC Policy on Conducting Elections in the Context of COVID -19 Pandemic.
The Training commenced at the six centres in Dutse, Gwaram, Buji, Kiyawa, Jahun and Birnin Kudu.
During the Training, Coordinating Trainers emphasized on the need for participants to put up the right attitude and proper conduct not only during the training but also in the course of conducting the elections.
Participants have been advised to be non-partisan in the discharge of their duties. They are further charged to ask questions where necessary, highlighting the importance of training to Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) that are the first point of succesful elections.
The participants adhered to the PTF/NCDC guidelines by ensuring social distancing in sitting arrangements, wearing of face masks and use of hand sanitizers during the training.
The training will highlight among others; the Voters Code of Conduct for Elections in the context of COVID-19 pandemic as well as the mock practice of the Revised Accreditation Process which involves the use of the Smart Card Reader (SCRs) for accreditation of voters and the use of Z-PAD in the Upload of Polling Unit Results (scanned form EC 8A) on Portal for Public View.
