Bayelsa Elections: FIDA, CFLI Holds Workshop For Female Observers [PHOTOS]

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) with support from the Canadian Fund For Local Initiatives (CFLI) has held a Capacity Building Workshop for selected women observers on observing, documenting and reporting women participation during the Bayelsa state off-cycle governorship elections.

The National Programme Officer of FIDA, Mr Fikih Obaro in an interview said the essence of the workshop is to enhance the capacity for the selected observers.

According to him the observers are expected to be guided by the Code of Conduct that guides observation of elections.

‘’ The essence of this programme is to enhance the capacity of accredited observers. And as you can see here all the observers are female, you can’t see any male. The aim is to enhance their capacity t in observing and reporting women participation in Bayelsa governorship election. And also look at issues of persons with disability at polling units and perpetrated violence against women.

The participants are expected to adhere to the code of conduct for election observers as it is being done globally. We expect them not to be partisan, we expect them to report what they see, document their findings.’’

On the fear of violence, Obaro said they would be taken through indicators of violence so that they can track violence perpetrated against women.

Also speaking in an interview, the Vice- Chairman of FIDA Bayelsa, Ms Ebiere Emmanuella Ekpese explained that the observers selected were picked through an independent process which places a premium on the credibility of the individuals selected.

She disclosed that the observers would have their capacity enhanced which would ensure they do not interfere in the election process but observe and produce an unbiased report.

“This is training for observers. We were able to get people to be observers for the Saturday election. Persons were picked from the different local government areas to give their unbiased reports on what is going on. This training is organised by FIDA Nigeria in partnership with CFLI in Canada.

‘’Participants will know what to do when they get to the polling units. Theirs is not to go and interfere but to observe and see what is happening. So, we are preparing them for that.

‘’This is not the first training. We have had a series of training pre- and post-election. We had a training for heads of communities and independent persons picked credible persons from the communities for the role of observers.’’

Speaking on the fear of violence, she noted that the Police have given the assurance that security has been beefed up to allow observers to do their jobs.

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