Search for Common Ground, an international NGO working on conflict transformation has trained 21 LGA observers on incident reporting on electoral violence using the Partnership for Niger Delta (PIND) SMS database platform in Okene, preparatory to the November 16 off cycle governorship election in Kogi State.
The two days training had the objective of building capacity of early warning observers to report Community-based conflict early warning, prevention, and mitigation activities, particularly in potential hotspots before, during and immediately after the November 2019 off cycle Governorship election in Kogi State.
Incidences to be reported by the observers will be shared with identified stakeholders and responders for immediate actions.
Highlights of the training are presentations and brainstorming sessions on overview of elections, identification of election violence triggers and early warning signs, mapping of electoral violence hotspots and geographic at risk of election violence, simulation on reporting to the PIND SMS based database platform, identification of critical election incidents and tracking of trending hate speech on elections in Kogi State.
The training of early warning observers on incident reporting in Kogi State was facilitated by Omolola Mamedu, Search’s Early Warning Coordinator in Kogi State, Afeno Super Odomovo, PIND’s Research Coordinator and Gift Omoniwa, State Project Coordinator.
