The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a training-of-trainers programme for state coordinating supervisors of the Electoral Operations Support Centre (EOSC) in preparation for the 2027 General Election. This initiative aims to enhance the speed and accuracy of electoral incident reporting and strengthen INEC's operational response during the elections. The programme is organized by INEC's Electoral Operations Department.
The training is designed to equip state coordinating supervisors with the necessary skills to coordinate EOSC activities and train personnel who will support electoral operations at the state level. INEC Deputy Director of Operations, Jibril Mohammed, emphasized the importance of the programme in building teams capable of providing timely and reliable operational support across the country. He represented the Director of Electoral Operations, Isa Magaji, at the training.
Mohammed highlighted the significance of the EOSC as a platform for monitoring developments in the field and ensuring that emerging challenges are quickly escalated to the appropriate authorities. He noted that every report received by the centre could relate to electoral personnel, materials, processes, or voters requiring guidance and intervention. The supervisors were urged to provide clear direction and exercise sound judgement while coordinating their teams.
The training is expected to enhance the participants' understanding of reporting procedures, information verification, incident escalation, and follow-up processes. Mohammed stressed the importance of accuracy and timeliness in electoral reporting, emphasizing that reports should clearly state what happened, where and when it occurred, the action already taken, and the current status of the incident. He encouraged the facilitators to make the sessions practical and interactive.
The training is part of INEC's wider preparations for the 2027 General Election, scheduled for January 16, 2027, with the governorship and State House of Assembly elections set for February 6. The programme aims to ensure that INEC is well-prepared to handle electoral operations and respond to incidents during the elections. This initiative is crucial in ensuring the smooth conduct of the elections.
According to INEC, the training will enable state coordinating supervisors to effectively transfer their knowledge to personnel at the state level. The supervisors play a critical role in coordinating electoral operations and responding to incidents during the elections. The training is expected to improve the overall performance of INEC during the 2027 General Election.
The 2027 General Election is a significant event in Nigeria's democratic process. INEC's efforts to enhance its operational response and improve electoral incident reporting are crucial in ensuring the credibility and transparency of the elections. The training of state coordinating supervisors is a key aspect of INEC's preparations for the elections.
Key points
- INEC commences training-of-trainers programme for state coordinating supervisors to improve electoral incident reporting and operational response ahead of the 2027 General Election.
