POLITICS
2027: INEC Harps on Proper Documentation, Archiving of Operational, Electoral Documents
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stressed the need for proper archiving, cataloguing and documentation of operational and electoral records ahead of the 2027 general elections.
These, according to the commission, are critical measures for sustaining public trust and institutional credibility.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education (VEP), Victoria Eta-Messi, gave the task on Tuesday in Abuja during a two-day capacity-building workshop for INEC staff members in the Graphics, Library, and Documentation (GLD) division from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The theme for the workshop organised by the VEP department was “Preserving Institutional Memory Through Effective Archiving and Documentation.”
Eta-Messi, while describing archiving and documentation as a key aspect of the electoral process, cautioned against the practice where historical electoral materials in state offices were stored improperly, leading to loss of critical institutional knowledge.
She identified the GLD as a “key leg” in the VEP department, entrusted with proper archiving for posterity, for reference and for lesson learning.
“A lot of times, we go to the states and things are in boxes, packed away somewhere and they rot. That does not allow us to do a comparative analysis and to learn from what existed in previous cycles of election.
“So, it is important that we begin to do the right thing; we begin to preserve knowledge and preserve our processes so that we can compare and learn, and consolidate on what existed, and then improve on what we had before then,” she said.
Eta-Messi said that the training was designed to strengthen the capacity of officers under the GLD division, which she described as the youngest yet vital division in the publicity department.
“GLD is the youngest division in the department, and coincidentally, there is a lot that the division needs to do.
“This is why we are trying to ensure that we build capacity in the respective states so that we begin to do what we are expected to do,” Eta-Messi said.
She urged PAOs, who double as GLD desk officers in their respective states, to take advantage of the training to be better prepared and positioned to do the work upon return to their various states.
“Let us try to help the department to help the commission to succeed in its archiving and documentation responsibilities,” she said.
Dwelling on the workshop’s overview and objectives, the GLD Deputy Director, Perpetual Aligwara, said that the commission’s credibility depended as much on its memory as on its neutrality.
According to Aligwara, every election cycle generates decisions, residues and lessons that are critical to the commission’s continuity, hence the need for the workshop ahead of 2027 polls.
She warned that without structured records management, the commission faces severe operational and legal risks.
Aligwara said that with proper documentation the commission would not only be able to explain its decisions better, but speak with authority.
“Without careful record management, the commission faces a big danger of losing the procedural knowledge of the commission’s activities, such as electoral activities, when staff or commissioners exit at the end of tenure and many others,” she stated.
She highlighted others challenges to include: inconsistent application of guidelines across state and local offices due to undocumented practice and repeated litigation or public trust risk when the rationale behind past decisions cannot be produced.
Aligwara cautioned officers against relying on temporary digital platforms or phone storage for critical photo and video records.
She called for the establishment of central, secure archives across all state offices to store election guidelines, result documentations, litigation records and all INEC activities in the form of written documents and pictorials.
Aligwara noted that in spite of the present digital world, people are still engaged in reading and sorting out information for research and other things.
“Institutional memory is not a luxury for an electoral management body like INEC.
“It is a safeguard for consistent, transparent and public confidence across election cycles.
A commission that documents its work builds trust that outlasts any single election,” she said.(NAN)
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Senate has postponed its two-day National Security Summit earlier scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026, following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The crash, which occurred on Monday in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, claimed the lives of 25 officers and seven crew members.
The Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, announced the postponement in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday.
He said the decision followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of three days of national mourning in honour of those who died in the crash.
The Senate had planned the summit to review Nigeria’s longstanding security challenges and develop practical measures to improve the protection of lives and property across the country.
Bamidele said the ad-hoc committee had completed preparations for the summit after concluding zonal public hearings before the crash forced the postponement.
President Tinubu had directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country throughout the mourning period.
The Senate said it considered it appropriate to defer the summit until further notice in honour of the deceased officers and crew members.
The upper chamber also expressed its condolences to the President, the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Air Force, and the families of the personnel who lost their lives while serving the country.
According to the Senate, a new date for the summit would be announced in due course.
It appealed to all stakeholders invited to the summit to take note of the national tragedy and bear with the Senate during the period of national mourning.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said Nigeria’s voter register has risen to more than 103 million ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while speaking at a strategic workshop for media executives.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Partnership Among Editors, Civil Society and Electoral Institutions,” was organised by INEC in collaboration with Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
Amupitan said more than 10.6 million Nigerians took part in the commission’s three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
He said INEC had completed the public display of the preliminary register, giving citizens an opportunity to raise claims and objections.
The commission, he added, had also concluded the final cleanup of the voter register using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).
Amupitan announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would begin on October 9.
He urged Nigerians who registered during the exercise to collect their PVCs and prepare to participate in the 2027 elections.
The INEC chairman also said the commission would continue to improve the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to strengthen the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.
“The ultimate arbiter of electoral integrity is public trust,” Amupitan said.
He called for stronger cooperation among INEC, media organisations, civil society groups and other stakeholders ahead of the elections.
According to him, INEC is prepared to listen to concerns raised by editors, address operational challenges and provide timely information to prevent misinformation from filling communication gaps.
Amupitan said the commission would also give editors direct access to verify field incidents, logistical developments and security reports in real time.
He proposed a sustained editorial feedback mechanism between INEC and the NGE to review the commission’s operational progress and address emerging challenges throughout the 2027 election cycle.
The chairman said closer engagement with the media was important to ensuring that voters receive accurate information, especially during periods of heightened public interest in electoral activities.
Also, DAI Team Leader, Rudolf Elbling, said credible elections depended not only on effective electoral administration but also on professional, ethical and fact-based journalism.
Elbling identified electoral integrity, election technology, the safety of journalists and voters, and information disorder as some of the key challenges facing the media ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said journalists had a critical role in providing voters with accurate information while holding electoral institutions and other stakeholders accountable.
The workshop brought together electoral officials, editors, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and improve public communication ahead of the 2027 general elections.
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Former President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has commended the quality, experience and capacity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates contesting the 2027 elections in the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.
Jonathan made the remarks at his residence in Yenagoa when he received a high-powered delegation led by the former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd.
), the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Samuel Ogbuku and the Bayelsa State APC Chairman, Rt. Hon. Warman Weri Ogoriba, PhD.The delegation visited the former President to formally present the APC candidates to him as a mark of respect and honour, particularly as a former President of Nigeria and a prominent leader from the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.
Presenting the candidates, Rear Admiral Jonah appealed to Jonathan to extend his goodwill and support to them, describing the candidates as individuals with the requisite capacity, experience and character to provide effective representation if elected.
He expressed confidence that they would serve the interests of their constituents and contribute meaningfully to the development of the district and the state.
The candidates presented included HRH. Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli for the Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Hon. Jonathan Robinson Obuebite, PhD, for the Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency and Barr. Jude Amidator Rex-Ogbuku for the Ogbia Federal Constituency.
Also presented were the APC candidates for the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, including Hon. Oteigbanyo George Braah for Nembe Constituency 1, Hon. Edward Brigidi Irigha for Nembe Constituency 2, Hon. Alalibo West for Nembe Constituency 3, Hon. Daniel Charles for Brass Constituency 1, Hon. Timi Agala for Brass Constituency 2 and Rt. Hon. Abraham Ngobere for Brass Constituency 3.
Others were Hon. High Chief Ebiango Okoba Egain for Ogbia Constituency 1, Hon. Godknows Obein for Ogbia Constituency 2 and Hon. Chief Gabriel Michael Ogbara for Ogbia Constituency 3.
Responding to the presentation, Jonathan expressed his appreciation for the quality of the candidates, noting that virtually all of them were people who, in his assessment, could be trusted in terms of capacity, performance and experience.
He gave the candidates his blessings and encouraged them to remain committed to serving their people if elected to office.
The former President urged the candidates to see politics as a means of improving society and attracting positive development to their respective constituencies.
He also admonished them and other stakeholders to sustain peace, unity and oneness in Bayelsa State, which he said remained important to the state’s continued development.
The visit brought together APC leaders, candidates, traditional leaders, youth representatives, and other stakeholders from across the Brass, Nembe, and Ogbia Local Government Areas as part of ongoing consultations and engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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