ActionAid Nigeria has trained 120 election observers for the forthcoming September 21 LGA elections in Enugu state.
The training was sponsored by ActionAid Nigeria with the support of the South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO); the Justice, Development, Peace, and Caritas Commission (JDPC), and the Enugu state government.
Speaking in Enugu on Monday, Celestine Odo, head of programmes at ActionAid Nigeria, said the LG polls provide an opportunity for rural people to choose their political leaders.
Odo said the polls also provide avenues for rural people to participate in government and make an impact in the running of their development affairs.
He said it is also a means of holding their elective political representatives accountable.
“The two-day training will make participants better understand and appreciate how elections are conducted; actors and stakeholders involved, especially LG elections being organised in Enugu state,” NAN quoted Odo as saying.
“You are also trained as observers and what to look out for and collect data on during the fieldwork on the day of the election.
“We also have to collect data on the conduct and behaviour of security, ad hoc staff, the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), as well as other actors and stakeholders.
“You will also do situational and aggregate reporting during and after the election.”
The ActionAid representative urged the participants to pay attention during the training.
Udochukwu Egwim, the SSDO head of programmes, said the LG administration, which is headed by a chairman and councillors, is crucial to overall grassroots development.
Egwim said LG elections often receive less attention and experience lower voter turnout than gubernatorial or presidential polls due to a lack of proper orientation and awareness among the rural people.
“I encourage you to put seriousness into the training and ensure that all learnt will be practised during and after the council elections,” he said.
“All participants at this training and those that will go to the field on election day must follow the guidelines and work with the internet application to be downloaded in your mobile phones.”