By Teddy Daniel
Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) is training election security threat reporters in Kaduna to monitor developments at the community level and report emerging threats ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The programme is part of CDD’s Election Security and Resilience Project, being implemented across Kaduna, Benue, Plateau and Katsina States.
The reporters are expected to identify, verify and report emerging election security threats before they escalate.
Speaking during the training in Kaduna, a Programme Staff with CDD who was one of the resource Persons, Raji Abdulaziz Olatunji, said the initiative was aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process by ensuring that developments at the grassroots are captured and acted upon.
“These reporters will be deployed across the local communities in the different states so that whatever that is happening, they will be able to flag it. This is more like an early warning mechanism to enable us to achieve early warning response.”he said
He explained that the training was equipping the reporters with the knowledge and procedures required to identify election security threats, verify information and submit accurate reports.
Mr Olatunji said the training also cover reporting templates and the step by step procedures for submitting information, stressing that reliable data was essential for appropriate action.
“We need quality data, we need quality information to make strong data for necessary actions.”he stressed
Also speaking, an Assistant Programme Officer with CDD, Titilayo Olaniyan, said the reporters were also trained on the methodology for gathering and analysing information, including identifying relevant actors, locations and other details surrounding reported incidents.
“The sessions would focus on the reporting template, analysis methodology and the identification and verification of misinformation threats”,she narrated
According to her, four reporters have been selected from each of the participating states, with the reporters expected to monitor developments before, during and after the elections under an eight-month engagement.
Miss Olaniyan added that during the election, the reporters would receive additional training to serve as election-day observers and document incidents using designated reporting forms, while their post election responsibilities would include monitoring issues such as post election violence and public perceptions following the declaration of results.
She explained that the reporters were selected partly from candidates who had participated successfully in previous CDD projects in the affected states, giving the organisation familiarity with their capacity and experience.
The CDD says the information generated through the initiative will help identify emerging threats at the community level and support timely interventions by relevant stakeholders.
Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
