The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over the poor preservation of materials from previous election cycles in states. According to the Commission, this has limited its ability to conduct comparative analysis and build on past experience. To address this gap, INEC has established a Graphics, Library and Documentation (GLD) division. The Commission also organized a two-day workshop on the training of Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) to strengthen archiving, cataloguing, and documentation practices.
The workshop, themed "Preserving Institutional Memory Through Effective Archiving and Documentation," was held in Abuja on September 22 and 23. National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, stated that the training was aimed at improving archiving practices across the Commission. He described archiving as a critical function of INEC that has often been overlooked. Haruna emphasized the importance of proper archiving for posterity, reference, and lesson learning.
Haruna noted that it is regrettable that materials from previous election cycles are often left unpreserved in states. He said this has limited the Commission's ability to conduct comparative analysis and build on past experience. The National Commissioner encouraged PAOs to take the training seriously, as they would double as GLD desk officers in their respective states. He emphasized that the training would enable them to begin the work of GLD in their states.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Adedayo Oketola, also underscored the importance of the workshop. He encouraged participants to take the skills and knowledge acquired from the training to their respective states and implement the vision to adequately and effectively preserve the Commission's memories. Oketola's remarks were particularly significant as the Commission gears up for the 2027 general election.
The Deputy Director of Graphics, Library and Documentation, described the workshop as a long-overdue return to standard practice in records management. She noted that many states could not readily produce documented records of past Commission activities, undermining the credibility and institutional authority of INEC's information officers. She emphasized that the Commission's credibility rests as much on its memory as on its neutrality.
The Deputy Director further stressed that undocumented practice increases the risk of inconsistent application of guidelines across state and local offices, as well as litigation and public trust challenges. She told participants that "what you don't put down doesn't exist," and that documentation, not confidence alone, gives officers the evidence needed to defend the Commission's decisions and history.
INEC plans to establish a central, secure archive covering election guidelines, results documentation, litigation records, post-election reviews, and pictorial materials from Commission activities nationwide. This is part of its preparation ahead of the 2027 general election. Participants at the workshop were expected to undergo practical sessions on digital documentation, with further engagements planned to monitor implementation of the new archiving standards across states.
Key points
- INEC has established a Graphics, Library and Documentation (GLD) division to address the poor preservation of past election materials.
- The Commission organized a two-day workshop to train Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) on archiving, cataloguing, and documentation practices.
- INEC plans to establish a central, secure archive covering election guidelines, results documentation, and other materials from Commission activities nationwide.
