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)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has warned foreign diplomatic missions against making unguarded comments, disparaging remarks or unsolicited lectures on democracy as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.

The minister issued the warning on Thursday at a diplomatic briefing with members of the Diplomatic Corps at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who described Nigeria as Africa’s largest democracy, said developments in the country had regional and international implications, urging diplomatic missions to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and established diplomatic channels.

She said, “As the 2027 general elections draw near, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would request that missions remain guided. Recognising the fact that Nigeria is the largest democracy in Africa, and that developments in Nigeria have regional and international complications and implications, we would not look kindly upon unguarded comments, disparaging remarks, or unsolicited lectures on democracy.”

The minister assured the diplomatic community that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was committed to democratic governance and delivering a credible election.

“The Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to democracy and to delivering an election that will be peaceful, free, fair, and credible in all ramifications,” she stated.

The briefing marked Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s first formal engagement with the Diplomatic Corps since her appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

She called for closer cooperation between the ministry and foreign missions, emphasising the importance of dialogue, mutual respect and adherence to established diplomatic procedures.

“I want us to speak frankly, to engage constructively, and to resolve issues through dialogue, established diplomatic channels, and mutual respect,” she said.

The minister also urged diplomatic missions to route official communications and requests intended for the Presidency, ministries, departments, agencies and other government institutions through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She explained that the ministry’s role was to facilitate, rather than obstruct, diplomatic engagement with the Nigerian Government.

“Let me emphasize that the Ministry is not an obstacle between you and the Nigerian Government; we are your bridge to the Nigerian Government,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the ministry would pay renewed attention to inactive Joint Commissions and Bi-National Commissions to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, security, education, technology, health and agriculture.

She said diplomatic relations should be assessed by the tangible benefits they delivered to citizens rather than by the number of meetings held or communiqués issued.

“The true measure of our relationships will not be the number of meetings we hold, neither will it be the number of communiqués we issue. It will be the progress we achieve for our peoples, the investments we facilitate, the opportunities we create, the challenges we resolve, and the friendships we strengthen,” she stated.

The minister reiterated that Nigeria’s foreign policy under Tinubu was anchored on the four Ds—Demography, Development, Democracy and Diaspora.

According to her, the policy seeks to place Nigerians at the centre of the country’s international engagements while maintaining its commitment to Africa and constructive relations with the wider international community.

She said Nigeria would continue to pursue strategic autonomy in its international relations, stressing that the policy did not amount to isolation.

“Strategic autonomy does not mean isolation; it means preserving Nigeria’s sovereign right to determine the relationships and positions that best serve our people,” she said.

On consular services, Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged Nigerian and foreign authorities to improve efficiency in handling diplomatic correspondence, document authentication, legalisation and visa applications.

She appealed to foreign missions to review their visa processes for Nigerian applicants, noting that prolonged waiting periods could affect legitimate travellers, students, businesspersons and families.

“While we fully respect the sovereign right of every country to determine its visa policy, excessively long waiting periods can create considerable difficulties for legitimate travellers, students, businesspersons, and families,” she said.

The minister further assured members of the Diplomatic Corps that the safety and welfare of diplomatic personnel, their families and their premises remained a priority of the Nigerian Government.

“On security, welfare, and cultural diplomacy, Excellencies, please be assured the safety and the well-being of the Diplomatic Corps remain a priority of the Government. Nigeria remains fully conscious of its obligations under the Vienna Conventions, including the protection of diplomatic and consular personnel, their families, their premises, and property.

“Whenever you have security concerns or other issues affecting your stay in Nigeria, please bring them promptly to our attention. The Ministry will engage the appropriate government and security agencies to ensure that legitimate concerns are addressed. We want you to feel safe, enjoy your assignments, and ultimately leave Nigeria with positive memories of our country and our people”.

The minister said Nigeria possesses extraordinary cultural richness while urging the diplomats to experience the country beyond official engagements.

She said Nigeria would continue to work with diplomatic missions to deepen trade and investment, promote peace and security, advance education, health and technological innovation, and create opportunities for citizens.

‘Excellencies, Nigeria is open to trade, investment, tourism, technology, knowledge, and meaningful partnerships. At the heart of these engagements must be reciprocity, sovereign equality, and mutual respect.

“At a time of increasing geopolitical complexity, conflicts, terrorism, climate change, cyber insecurity, irregular migration, and economic uncertainty remind us that in these times, no country can confront today’s challenges alone,” She said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to dialogue, multilateralism and the peaceful resolution of disputes through its engagements with ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations, the Commonwealth and other international institutions.

“Nigeria will, therefore, continue to champion dialogue, multilateralism, and peaceful resolution of disputes while remaining active within ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations, the Commonwealth, and other international institutions.

“We will continue to advocate an international system in which Africa’s voice is heard, and the continent participates meaningfully in shaping global decisions.

“We are ready to work with each of you to deepen trade and investment, strengthen cooperation on peace and security, advance education, health, and technological innovation, and create greater opportunities for our peoples,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, said Vice President Kashim Shettima holds northern governors in high regard.

Nkwocha said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, clarifying recent remarks by Shettima concerning the support President Bola Tinubu received from northern governors.

He said Shettima recognised the individual and collective contributions of northern governors and other APC leaders to the party’s success and Tinubu’s emergence in 2023.

Nkwocha explained that Shettima’s reference to six northern governors who supported Tinubu concerned political consultations and alignments before the APC presidential primary in June 2022.

“The Office of the Vice President wishes to clarify remarks by Vice President Kashim Shettima concerning the support President Bola Tinubu received from northern governors in the build-up to his emergence as the APC presidential candidate.

“It was not a comment on the position of northern APC governors following President Tinubu’s emergence as the party’s candidate, nor was it intended to question their support during the 2023 presidential election,” he said

The presidential aide said that after the presidential primary, APC governors in the North rallied around the party’s candidate.

He added that the northern governors played important roles in the campaign and electoral efforts that culminated in Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 general election.

“Indeed, it is worthy of note that it was after the declaration of President Tinubu as winner of the 2023 presidential primary that all other governors across the country rallied round and followed suit.

“That declaration by the northern governors hence became the aligning moment across all political divides in the quest for power shift,” he said.

Nkwocha said Shettima regretted any interpretation of his remarks that may have suggested otherwise and hoped the clarification would place the comments in proper context.

“VP Shettima also appreciates the Nigerian media for its longstanding professionalism and constructive engagement with his office.

“He urges continued accuracy and context in the reporting of public remarks as the country approaches another political season,” he said. (NAN)