INEC Trains EOSC Supervisors Ahead of 2027 Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the training of state coordinating supervisors of its Electoral Operations Support Centre (EOSC), as part of efforts to improve timely reporting, information verification and incident response ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In a post on X, the Commission said the Training of Trainers, organised by its Electoral Operations Department, is designed to equip state coordinating supervisors with the knowledge and practical skills needed to coordinate EOSC activities and train personnel who will support electoral operations during the elections.

Delivering the welcome remarks on behalf of the Director of Electoral Operations, Isa Magaji, the Deputy Director, Operations, Jibril B. Mohammed, described the training as an important step towards building teams capable of providing timely and dependable operational support across the country.

He said the EOSC plays a key role in helping the Commission monitor developments from the field and ensuring emerging operational challenges are promptly escalated to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

According to him, every report received through the EOSC represents a real situation affecting electoral personnel, materials, processes or voters, stressing that even issues such as delayed appointments or transportation difficulties could affect the smooth conduct of elections.

“Every report represents a situation affecting people,” he said, noting that behind every call or dashboard entry is someone who requires guidance, attention and a practical response.

Magaji urged the state coordinating supervisors to provide clear direction and sound judgement to the teams they would oversee, while ensuring that the knowledge and experience gained during the training are effectively transferred to personnel at the state level.

He said the success of the exercise would ultimately be measured by how confidently and effectively personnel trained by the participants perform their duties during the elections.

The director also urged participants to actively engage in the sessions, ask questions, share experiences and seek clarification on areas of uncertainty, noting that resolving operational ambiguities during the training would help prevent them from becoming challenges during the elections.

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He said participants were expected to leave the training with a stronger understanding of EOSC responsibilities, reporting procedures, information verification, incident escalation and follow-up processes.

Magaji particularly stressed the importance of accuracy and timeliness in operational reporting, saying effective reports must clearly establish what happened, where and when it happened, the action already taken and the status of the incident.

Beyond technical competence, he urged participants to maintain the human side of their responsibilities by responding to field officers with calmness, respect and helpfulness, particularly when they are operating under pressure.

He noted that 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.

Magaji appreciated the facilitators and others involved in organising the training, urging them to make the sessions practical, interactive and focused on situations participants could encounter during the 2027 General Election.

He also acknowledged the support of sponsors and partners, expressing appreciation for their contribution to the initiative and stressing the need for participants to justify the confidence and resources invested in the programme.