The Acting Director‑General of The Electoral Institute (TEI), Prof. Ibrahim Sani, has stressed that the competence of election officials at polling units depends significantly on the quality of training they receive. He declared open a two‑day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop held from 21–22 May 2026 to prepare personnel for the 2026 Off‑Cycle Governorship Elections in Ekiti and Osun States, as well as six by‑elections scheduled for Rivers, Enugu, Nasarawa, Ondo, Kebbi, and Kano States.
Sani described the workshop as “a crucial stage in the Commission’s electoral preparation process” and charged participants to approach it with seriousness, discipline, and professionalism. He said the objective was not only to transfer knowledge but, more importantly, to equip trainers with the skills necessary to ensure standardization, consistency, and professionalism in the delivery of electoral services across all affected states.
Drawing attention to innovations introduced under the 2026 Electoral Act, the Acting DG highlighted the e‑EC8A system for election result upload, urging trainers to pay close attention to its development and ensure its effective cascade to polling officials. He noted that the signing of the 2026 Electoral Act and the subsequent release of the new Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2026 had introduced key innovations and that participants must help ensure a hitch‑free process that translates into credible, inclusive, and peaceful elections.
While acknowledging the progress recorded during the Anambra and FCT Area Council elections, Prof. Sani maintained that more work remains to be done. “We have made giant strides, but still it is not yet good enough. We must continue to help shape future elections,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Acting Administrative Secretary of TEI, Mr. Nasiru Umar Usman, charged trainers with three specific responsibilities: fidelity to the training manual, scenario-based training with emphasis on simulating the computation and transmission of election results, and feedback discipline. Usman was unequivocal about the stakes involved. “An election is only as strong as its weakest‑trained official. A single Polling Unit where the e‑EC8A process is misunderstood becomes a flashpoint for dispute. We are training to prevent that,” he warned.
Usman also highlighted the Institute’s investment in digital training infrastructure, noting that the INEC E‑School offers flexible online learning programs that allow trainees to access courses at their own convenience regardless of location, with learning progress and certification centrally managed by the Institute. He urged all personnel to make effective use of the platforms.
He further charged trainers to ensure that every Electoral Officer, Assistant Electoral Officer, Supervisory Presiding Officer, Presiding Officer, and Assistant Presiding Officer operates from one uniform, correct, and updated manual, cautioning that the workshop should not be treated lightly. “Do not treat this ToT as a routine refresh, treat it as a re‑tooling for a new electoral landscape,” he said.
Both officials expressed appreciation to INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, members of the Commission, the Board of the Electoral Institute, and TEI staff, particularly the Director of Training, Dr. Binta Kasim Muhammed, for their leadership and support in making the workshop possible.