The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State has called for stronger collaboration among electoral stakeholders and security agencies to identify and tackle potential threats ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Johnson Alalibo, made the call on Thursday October 29, 2026 during an Electoral Risk Management Sensitisation Workshop for Electoral Officers, members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and other stakeholders in Port Harcourt.
Alalibo said successful elections require deliberate preparation, effective coordination and collective commitment from all institutions and individuals involved in the electoral process.
He stressed the need for electoral officers and stakeholders to understand the importance of identifying potential electoral risks and developing effective strategies to manage them.
The REC explained that the commission was organising the workshop to promote a common understanding of electoral responsibilities, strengthen institutional relationships and encourage a coordinated response to challenges that could arise before and during the elections.
Also speaking, the Administrative Secretary of INEC in Rivers State, Angela Eboghe, described electoral risk management as a practical approach to identifying, assessing, monitoring and addressing threats capable of disrupting the electoral process.
She listed possible threats to include security challenges, political tensions, environmental factors and operational difficulties, warning that failure to manage them could endanger voters and electoral officials while undermining public confidence in the electoral system.
In a goodwill message, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police and Co-Chairman of ICCES, Olugbenga Adepoju, represented by CSP James Njoku, assured that security agencies would intensify efforts to guarantee a peaceful electoral process in 2027.
He highlighted the internal and external security threats associated with elections and reaffirmed the commitment of security agencies to addressing them.
Similarly, the State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Edward Banigo, represented by Boma Amadi, said peaceful elections require adequate planning, proper public orientation, civic education and concerted efforts to counter electoral disinformation.
The workshop featured breakout sessions where participants examined potential threats, including the abduction of electoral personnel, bomb attacks, cultism, voter suppression, religious rivalry and the unlawful use of security personnel.
The discussions drew on experiences from previous elections, with data gathered expected to guide security planning and the strategic deployment of personnel ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Participants included Electoral Officers from the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State, members of ICCES and media representatives.
The sensitisation workshop is aimed at identifying electoral risk factors, strengthening early warning and response mechanisms, and improving collaboration among stakeholders to ensure peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in 2027.
