INEC Deepens Electoral Training Reforms Ahead of Ekiti, Osun Polls
Oru Leonard
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has intensified efforts to enhance the quality and effectiveness of its electoral training programmes with the commencement of a two-day Post-Election Training Audit (PETA) and Pre-Training Assessment Workshop (PRETA) in Abuja.
The workshop, held at Silver Green Hotel from April 29 to 30, 2026, forms part of the Commission’s strategic preparations for the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States. It reviewed training activities deployed during the 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election and the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, while setting a framework for improved training delivery in future polls.
Declaring the workshop open, the Acting Director General of the The Electoral Institute (TEI), Prof. Ibrahim Sani, underscored the critical role of electoral training in sustaining public trust and electoral credibility. He noted that the performance of poll workers significantly shapes voter perception of fairness, inclusivity, and transparency.
“The electorate’s perception of fairness, credibility and inclusivity of an election is largely determined by the performance of poll workers,” he said, warning that poorly trained personnel could undermine the integrity of elections.
Prof. Sani commended election officials for their performance in both the Anambra governorship and FCT council elections, attributing the success recorded to improved training quality.
He urged participants to undertake a thorough review of past exercises and propose actionable reforms.
In his welcome remarks, the Acting Administrative Secretary of TEI, Malam Nasiru Umar, said the audit would provide objective insights into the effectiveness of training programmes and help address identified gaps ahead of future elections.
“It is more profitable to examine what went right or wrong now that these experiences are still fresh in our minds,” he stated, encouraging frank and constructive engagement.
Also speaking, the Director of Planning and Monitoring, Mrs. Helen Ajayi, described the PETA and PRETA exercises as both timely and strategic, emphasizing that electoral training remains a cornerstone of credible elections.
“What worked well must be institutionalised; what did not must be improved with urgency and precision,” she said.
Providing further details, the Director of Training, Dr. Binta Kasim Mohammed, explained that the exercise is designed to comprehensively assess the implementation and management of training activities from recent elections while mapping out improvements for the Ekiti and Osun polls.
According to her, the audit focuses on key elements of the training cycle, including recruitment and qualification of participants, shortlisting processes, inter-departmental collaboration, and engagement with stakeholders such as the NYSC. It also examines logistics, training venues, materials, facilitation quality, and the effectiveness of training delivery, particularly in relation to election processes and technology deployment.
She added that issues such as coordination, supervision, security at training venues, reporting systems, and participant conduct would also be evaluated, alongside the performance of ad hoc staff on election day.
Goodwill messages were delivered by key departments of the Commission. Representing the ICT Directorate, Deputy Director Mrs. Anthonia Idemudia reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to continuous improvement and alignment with global best practices.
“We are here because we seek to constantly improve our processes and procedures,” she said.
Similarly, the Director of Electoral Operations, Mallam Isah Magagi Gumi, highlighted the importance of synergy among departments in achieving effective training outcomes.
INEC noted that the combined PETA and PRETA initiative reflects its commitment to institutional learning—reviewing past experiences while proactively preparing for future elections. The Commission expressed confidence that the outcomes of the workshop would strengthen its training architecture and consolidate gains toward the delivery of free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections across Nigeria.
Courtesy: INEC Editorial Team
