In continuation of his courtesy visit to critical stakeholders in the electoral process, the Resident Electoral Commissioner Gombe State, Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris today visited four key institutions and members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
At the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the REC commended the EFCC for it’s dogged efforts at combating the menance of vote buying and selling during elections which has yielded results across the country. He briefed the Director about the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR). In his remarks, the Zonal Director, Austine Adache disclosed that three convictions for electoral offences were secured in Gombe State. He pledged his full support to the Commission, including the capacity building collaboration championed by the REC.
While at the NYSC, the REC hailed the sacrifices of Corps members participating in elections, which has contributed significantly to the conduct of credible elections in Nigeria. He assured the State Cordinator, Chinwe Nwachukwu, that the welfare of Corps members participating in elections is of topmost priority to the Commission including their safety.
The next point of call was the National Orientation Agency (NOA), where the REC sought collaboration in the area of sensitization and mobilisation of the electorate for the forthcoming CVR. He pledged to include staff of the agency in the monthly Staff Capacity Building/knowledge sharing, set to commence by the end of this month, to equip them with more knowledge of what the Commission does.
It was a great delight when the REC visited the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) where the Controller, Salihu Abdullahi threw the doors of the Service open to the Commission for training of his officers in electoral matters. He further expressed delight at the ongoing amendments to the electoral legal framework by the National Assembly, especially the prospects of security agencies and inmates voting in 2027 if the amendments succeed.
The REC was accompanied on the visit by the Ag Administrative Secretary – Fadimatu Aliyu Bakari, HOD Electoral Operations – Audu Mamuda Dauya, HOD Voter Education and Publicity – Rifkatu Duku, HOD Election and Party Monitoring – Gambo Arabi, HOD Legal Services – Kundum Nenfort Patrick, Esq, HOD Voter Registry/ICT – Engr. Bitson Filibus, HOD Finance & Accounts – Babayo Isa and the State Public Affairs Officer – Mohorret Bigun.