How INEC plans to prevent election day chaos in Ekiti, six States

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified preparations for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election and six bye-elections across the country, launching a nationwide training programme aimed at strengthening the capacity of election officials and reinforcing confidence in the electoral process.

The three-day training for Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), which commenced on Friday across designated centres in Ekiti, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Nasarawa, Kano and Kebbi states, signals the commission’s determination to deliver credible, transparent and technology-driven elections.

Organised by the Electoral Institute (TEI), the programme is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to effectively supervise polling operations and train Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) who will be deployed on election day.

A major focus of the exercise is the deployment and operation of enhanced election technology, particularly the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the Electronic Election Result Form (eEC8A), and the improved INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), all of which have become central to the commission’s efforts to improve transparency and public trust in elections.

Chairman of the Board of Electoral Institute and National Commissioner, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, said the training reflects INEC’s commitment to conducting peaceful and transparent elections in line with its constitutional mandate.

According to him, continuous investment in election personnel remains critical to ensuring that electoral officials are adequately prepared to manage polling processes and address operational challenges in the field.

The Acting Director-General of the Electoral Institute, Prof. Ibrahim Sani, described effective training as a cornerstone of credible elections, stressing that the quality of election administration is largely determined by the competence of personnel deployed to polling units.

He urged participants to familiarise themselves with the commission’s technology-driven innovations and understand the enhanced functionalities of BVAS and the electronic result management system.

Sani also called on the trainees to uphold the principles of professionalism, integrity and competence while carrying out their responsibilities.

Similarly, the Director of Training, Dr. Binta Kasim Mohammed, said the programme should not be viewed as a routine exercise but as a strategic intervention designed to improve election administration and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

She emphasised the importance of maintaining high standards during the cascade training that will be conducted for Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers, noting that they would be directly responsible for managing polling units during the elections.

Across the participating states, reports indicated strong attendance and active engagement by trainees.

In Ekiti State, Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr Bunmi Omosehindemi urged participants to remain impartial and adhere strictly to the code of conduct guiding election officials.

The training, held at the Federal Polytechnic Satellite Campus in Ado-Ekiti, also attracted senior electoral officials and facilitators from TEI and INEC headquarters.

In Enugu, facilitators and election officials held a pre-training briefing session at the INEC state office to harmonise expectations and review key aspects of the training curriculum ahead of the forthcoming bye-election. Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hon. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, pledged support for the successful conduct of both the training and the election.

Practical demonstrations on the operation of the enhanced BVAS and electronic upload of results through the IReV platform formed a major component of the training sessions in Enugu, Ondo, Nasarawa and other participating states.

The sessions also covered polling and counting procedures, incident management, election-day operations, result management processes and the supervisory responsibilities expected of SPOs.

In Kano, Resident Electoral Commissioner Amb. Abdussamad Abdu Zango underscored the importance of thorough understanding of electoral procedures, encouraging participants to seek clarification whenever necessary to improve performance and minimise operational errors.

He also stressed the need for integrity, professionalism and vigilance, warning that the credibility of the electoral process would depend significantly on the conduct of election officials.

The nationwide training comes at a time when public scrutiny of election administration remains high, with stakeholders demanding greater transparency and efficiency in the conduct of polls.

By placing technology and personnel capacity at the centre of its preparations, INEC appears determined to address recurring concerns surrounding voter accreditation, result management and election-day logistics.