The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun training state coordinating supervisors to strengthen its response to incidents and improve the accuracy of operational reporting ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The training of trainers, organised by INEC’s Electoral Operations Department, is focused on the Electoral Operations Support Centre, a platform through which the commission monitors developments during electoral operations and escalates emerging challenges.
Speaking at the programme, the Deputy Director, Operations, Jibril Mohammed, who represented the Director of Electoral Operations, Isa Magaji, said the initiative was designed to build teams capable of providing timely and reliable support across the country.
Mohammed said the quality of information reaching the commission could determine how quickly it responds to problems during elections.
“Every report represents a situation affecting people,” he said, explaining that calls and dashboard entries could involve electoral officials, materials, processes or voters requiring intervention.
He urged the supervisors to ensure that the knowledge acquired during the programme was effectively transferred to personnel at the state level.
According to him, reports generated during the elections must clearly state what happened, where and when it happened, the action already taken and the current status of the incident.
He also stressed the need for supervisors to verify information before escalation and maintain effective follow-up on reported incidents.
Mohammed said personnel handling election-related reports must also treat field officers with respect, particularly those working under pressure.
“The quality of communication and the manner in which information is received could affect both the quality of information available to the Commission and the support provided to personnel in the field,” he said.
He said participants would be expected to develop a stronger understanding of EOSC responsibilities, reporting procedures, information verification, incident escalation and follow-up processes.
The INEC official urged facilitators to make the sessions practical and interactive by using situations that supervisors could encounter during the 2027 elections.
He said the effectiveness of the programme would ultimately be determined by how confidently personnel trained by the supervisors performed their duties during the elections.
The commission said the initiative was part of broader efforts to strengthen its operational preparedness and improve the management of emerging challenges during the 2027 general election.
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