BRIDGE Training For National Independant Electoral Commission Of Nigeria

 The African Union (AU) and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) organised a BRIDGE workshop on Pre-Election Activities for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from November 26-30, 2012 at Bolingo Hotel and Towers Abuja, Nigeria, within the framework of Joint Activity Plan (JAP) and funded by a grant from GIZ.

The training aims to enhance INEC capacity towards 2015 General Elections, to address gaps on logistics (provision and distribution of personnel and materials), operations and training challenges experienced in the 2011 general elections. The Pre-election Activities module has these main objectives:

1. to provide the tools to develop a thorough logistics plan in a professional, ethical and confident way

2. to explore the complexity of the logistical operations of elections

3. to emphasise the importance of thorough planning of all aspects of elections

Three participants were invited from each geo-political zones with five from Head quarters totaling to twenty three participants.

The facilitation team was made up four persons, which was led by Theophilus Dowetin of International IDEA. The training also afforded the following three facilitators who came from Head quarters of INEC, to gain full accreditation:

1. Jude Okwuonu

2. Babatunde .A. Ojedokun

3. Ruqaiyat Mohammed Ka’oje

Evaluation of the training took place both on a daily bases as well as at the end of the course. Daily evaluation allowed for adjustments, if needed, in the subsequent day’s activities. A final course evaluation indicated that 100% of the participants indicated that the course has improved their competence. The training provided the INEC a great opportunity to review its previous logistics and operational planning which generated lots of interest among participants because it happens to be one of the greatest challenges for election administration in Nigeria. Participants challenged themselves to improve on their planning and implementation.