INEC begins training of supervisors ahead of 2027 elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun training state coordinating supervisors of its Electoral Operations Support Centre (EOSC) ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The training is aimed at improving the speed and accuracy of electoral incident reporting and strengthening the Commission’s response to operational challenges during the elections.

INEC said in a post on its X handle on Wednesday that the programme was organised by its Electoral Operations Department to equip state coordinating supervisors with the skills to coordinate EOSC activities and train personnel who will support election operations.

Speaking at the training, Deputy Director, Operations, Jibril Mohammed, who represented the Director of Electoral Operations, Isa Magaji, said the programme was designed to build teams capable of providing timely and reliable operational support across the country.

He described the EOSC as a key platform for monitoring developments during elections and ensuring that emerging challenges are quickly escalated to the appropriate authorities.

“Every report represents a situation affecting people,” Mohammed said, noting that calls and dashboard entries could involve electoral personnel, materials, processes or voters requiring immediate guidance and intervention.

He urged the supervisors to exercise sound judgment, provide clear direction and ensure that knowledge gained during the training was effectively transferred to personnel at the state level.

According to him, participants are expected to strengthen their understanding of EOSC responsibilities, reporting procedures, information verification, incident escalation and follow-up processes.

Mohammed stressed that operational reports must be timely and accurate, with details of what happened, where and when it occurred, action already taken and the current status of the incident.

He also urged supervisors to treat field officers with patience and respect, particularly when dealing with personnel 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.

Mohammed called on facilitators to make the sessions practical and interactive, using real-life scenarios that supervisors could encounter during the 2027 elections.

The initiative forms part of INEC’s preparations to strengthen its operational response and improve the management of electoral incidents ahead of the 2027 General Election.