As part of early preparations for the 2027 General Elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun a two-day capacity-building workshop for officers of its Voter Education and Publicity Department, focusing on strategic communication and misinformation monitoring.
The training, holding in Keffi, Nasarawa State, is organised in partnership with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and brings together INEC personnel responsible for voter education, public communication and stakeholder engagement across the country.
Declaring the workshop open, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, represented by the Deputy Director, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, commended IFES and other development partners for their continued support to the Commission. He explained that although the training was initially planned ahead of previous elections, operational challenges made it impossible, noting that the current session remains timely and relevant.
Mr. Ifogah said the Commission is already preparing for a series of electoral activities in 2026 and beyond, stressing that the evolving media landscape—driven by new technologies and artificial intelligence—has increased the spread of misinformation and disinformation. He emphasised the need for INEC to stay ahead by actively monitoring the information space, countering false narratives and safeguarding the credibility of the electoral process.
He urged participants to fully engage with the training, share experiences and adopt innovative communication strategies that would enhance public trust in elections. He also highlighted the importance of collaboration across departments and sustained engagement with stakeholders to ensure credible and transparent elections.
Earlier, the workshop commenced with the introduction of participants by the IFES Nigeria Project Manager, Ms. Judith Toryem. The IFES Kenya Country Director and Nigeria Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Mr. Obaje Ukeh, delivered an in-depth session on the objectives of the training, covering strategic communication in electoral contexts, public perception and trust in Nigeria’s elections, as well as effective use of social media and digital platforms.
Also participating in the workshop is the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Adedayo Oketota, who is expected to share practical insights on strategic media engagement, election communication and public information management.
The workshop is expected to strengthen the capacity of INEC’s voter education officers to navigate the evolving information environment and boost public confidence in the electoral process ahead of future elections.
