2019: USAID, IRI hold workshop for stakeholders on election violence mitigation

From Umar Dankano, Yola

The International Republican Institute (IRI) in conjunction with United State Agency For International development (USAID) have organised a one day capacity building workshop for critical stakeholders on election violence and its mitigation in Adamawa state.
Declaring open the workshop tagged ‘Consensus building on Election Violence mitigation’ in Yola Wednesday, Sentell Barnes, Resident Program Director, International Republican Institute (IRI)said the organisation is committed to improving the participation of marginalised groups by addressing the factors that hinder their contributions in electioneering activities.
Barnes stated that the women, Youths and people with special needs are some of the people shortchanged in participating in politics.
“We are here because we are regarding as major stakeholders in cutting this menace as we take action to end or largely discourage what defers us.
“Since 2017, IRI is implementing the responsive political party program which seeks to increase political parties responsiveness and representation as well as oversight and accountability of government in Adamawa Bauchi, Ebonyi and Sokoto States”, Barnes highlighted.
Represented at the occasion by the Adamawa state Coordinator of the IRI, Charity Anaja, Barnes advanced that all hands must be on deck to ensure violence free elections come 2019.
Presenting his paper titled Scenario Planning On Election Violence Mitigation, Umar Kari harped on the challenges causing crisis, listing impunity among political parties, election injustices, rigging, vote buying, hate speech, fake news and campaign of calumny among others.
Kari observed that weak democratic institution and bad media are part of the major constraints facing our election will must be addressed squarely.
Earlier in his good will message, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa state, Kassim Gaidam, described the workshop as timely, noting that it will be a very useful tool in the hands of all stakeholders.
Gaidam expressed appreciation with the commitment of their partners, especially IRI in contributing immensely in the election projects in many facets like the workshop, adding that the commission is mindful of the fact that a violence free election is an acceptable election and so will continue to do everything for peaceful exercise.