The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has concluded a two-day Strategic Capacity Building Workshop for its Administrative Secretaries with a renewed focus on strengthening state-level coordination, accountability and operational readiness ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The workshop, which brought together Administrative Secretaries from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, ended on Tuesday, 8th September 2026, at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking at the concluding session, the Secretary to the Commission, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, urged the participants to translate the knowledge and practical tools acquired during the workshop into measurable improvements in election administration across their respective states.
The engagement, organised with the support of DAI, the European Union and DGM, focused on strengthening the capacity of Administrative Secretaries to effectively translate Commission policies into state-level implementation.
It also examined ways of addressing operational bottlenecks and improving preparedness for the 2027 General Election.
Key areas discussed included staff supervision, logistics and material deployment, electoral technology, ad hoc staff management, security preparedness, infrastructure, monitoring and evaluation.
A major outcome of the workshop was the adoption of a 16-point communiqué containing recommendations aimed at strengthening INEC’s preparedness and addressing identified operational gaps ahead of the 2027 elections.
The communiqué called for clearer delineation of the roles and responsibilities of Resident Electoral Commissioners and Administrative Secretaries, as well as early identification of security and logistical hotspots.
Participants also recommended improved staff deployment, stronger transportation arrangements, effective reverse logistics and timely assessment of critical infrastructure.
The communiqué further emphasised the need to incorporate technology readiness into state-level operational planning, including equipment, personnel, connectivity, power supply, system testing, technical support and contingency arrangements.
It recommended regular mock accreditation exercises, resource-management simulations and technology audits, with identified technical and operational deficiencies to be documented, escalated and resolved ahead of the elections.
On ad hoc personnel, participants identified gaps in recruitment, training, deployment and performance tracking, and called for stronger end-to-end management through effective integration of relevant INEC systems.
They also proposed the establishment of a strategic pool of trained and experienced ad hoc staff, subject to clear eligibility, performance and ethical standards, alongside continuous capacity development and tracking.
Presenting the communiqué, Dr Eze Uchechukwu-John said it captured the key outcomes of the two-day deliberations and provided a framework for further action towards the 2027 General Election.
The communiqué was subsequently adopted at the conclusion of the workshop.
In her closing remarks on behalf of the Administrative Secretaries, the Lagos State Administrative Secretary, Mrs Oluyemi Adeyemi-Showunmi, appreciated the Commission’s leadership, development partners, facilitators and resource persons for the strategic engagement.
She said the practical lessons from the workshop would enhance the ability of Administrative Secretaries to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
Mrs Adeyemi-Showunmi expressed the participants’ commitment to applying the knowledge and tools acquired to strengthen coordination, supervision, planning and operational preparedness in their respective states ahead of the 2027 General Election.