Eze Onyekpere Esq What is the nature of the security that this discourse puts up for financing? What are the challenges along the way and what possible solutions can be drawn from national and international experience? By security in elections, we are adopting the broad concept of ensuring protection to the integrity of the electoral process. Integrity here refers to the consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes of the elections. We are also referring to activities and processes involved in protecting the integrity of the electoral process from the perspective of the rule of law. The security of the electoral process must proceed from the observance and implementation of all legal norms that are prescribed for the elections. Generally, electoral security involves ensuring the safety of the electoral process and to create a quiet and safe environment to enable citizens to take part in the electoral process without fear, intimidation, before, during and after voting 1 . The objectives of electoral security include physical security of buildings and materials, personal security of voters, candidates, representatives of political parties and that of the body responsible for the management of elections and the community in general 2 . It also includes security of information, 1 Ballots not Bullets, Elections and Security in West Africa, UNOWA Issue Papers, May 2009. 2 IDEA cited with approval in the Role of Security Forces in the Electoral Process; the Case of Six West African Countries. 88 ELECTION SECURITY IN NIGERIA: MATTERS ARISING Election Security Finance computers, software and elections communications information 3 . It is imperative to begin with the settled facts- the election as a process, not just the events on the Election Day. This leaves us with three periods- the pre-electoral period, electoral period and post electoral period. For the pre-electoral period, we are referring to the period for preparations and activities that would facilitate the election day event and this will include compilation, updating and display of voters register, party and candidates' campaigns, capacity building for electoral officers, media, security agencies and civil society, voter education including vote wisely, knowing the choices available,“come out and vote campaigns”, etc. For the electoral period, we are referring to the days for actual voting and close of polling booths. The post-electoral period on the other hand includes retrieval of election materials, debriefing of election officials, resolution of electoral disputes, etc. Normally, it is the Police that take the lead in election security work and by section 4 of the Police Act, they are charged with: l Prevention and detection of crime;(including electoral crimes) l Apprehension of offenders;(electoral offenders) l Preservation of law and order;(pre to post) l Protection of life and property;(pre to post) l Enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are charged. 3 IDEA, supra. ELECTION SECURITY IN NIGERIA: MATTERS ARISING 89