By Patrick Obia
Basic Right Council Initiative (BRCI), a non-profit making organization based in Calabar, Cross River State has trained over 18 observers for the 2023 general elections.
Held at the State Ministry of Justice, Calabar, participants were drawn from various communities in three local government areas to serve as local observers for the February 25th and March 11th Presidential/National Assembly and Governorship/State Assembly polls respectively.
The participants wholly made up of vibrant young persons were armed with the necessary skills, and tools as well, and in observing elections.
The Principal Counsel of BRCI, Barrister James Ibor said the training which is in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria has recorded successes in previous elections and has contributed to the amendment of the Electoral Act 2022.
Ibor who took the trainees through the new Electoral Act 2022 as amended, expressed optimism they will utilize the knowledge they have been armed with on the field.
“Before now, we observed and reported manually but now we have a digital app that has been downloaded and installed into their phones where they can record their observations digitally and upload them in real-time.
“In the practical session, the participants demonstrated to us they are ready to be deployed to the field. We are very impressed that with the responses we have gotten, they understand their role as election observers.”
He continued: “They have been trained and we expect them to carry out their observation duties effectively and efficiently; they are armed with the necessary information, tools, and prepared. We can only hope for the best from them; they are excited, committed, and ready to make the sacrifice. Observing elections is not easy; they are going to sacrifice their time to be in the polling unit before the election starts and will be the last to leave.”
The human rights activist enjoined Nigerians and Cross Riverians to embrace peace before, during, and after the election and seek redress at the tribunal if they felt aggrieved.
“Election is not war. No matter the post-election outcome, nobody should resort to violence and self-help. An election tribunal has been constituted to listen to aggrieved parties to vent their grievances. We should conduct ourselves peacefully and in accordance with the laws because the election is not war; if we don’t get it right, we can learn from our mistakes and do better tomorrow, we don’t have to destroy this country,” the lawyer sued.
Earlier, the Program Manager of BRCI, Mrs. Joy Adebayo journeyed the participants on the digital way of collating and transmitting information while on the field observing.
The exercise, highly interactive and practical saw participants brainstorming on ways to come out with successful fieldwork.
High Points were question and answer sessions and group photographs.