The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a crucial Training of Trainers (ToT) programme at The Electoral Institute (TEI) in Abuja, as part of intensified preparations for 16 pivotal bye-elections scheduled to hold on August 16, 2025.
The Chairman of TEI’s Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, declared the training open, outlining the scope and significance of the upcoming polls. According to him, the bye-elections will take place in 12 states and 32 Local Government Areas across Nigeria.
Zuru emphasized that the training is central to INEC’s goal of ensuring credible and transparent elections, revealing that TEI’s “cascade training plan” has received Commission approval. Under this structure, trained participants will go on to instruct Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), Presiding Officers (POs), and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) nationwide.
He stressed the importance of electoral personnel mastering relevant electoral laws and being proficient in essential technologies. This includes:
- Accurate scanning and uploading of election results using the enhanced IReV Mobile App
- Proper use of Form EC 40G(PU) to document cancelled or non-held polling units.
While acknowledging recent electoral successes in Edo and Ondo States, Professor Zuru said retraining is “imperative” for the upcoming bye-elections and court-ordered re-runs, describing the August polls as especially critical, given their proximity to the Anambra off-cycle governorship election.
“This is a shared responsibility and obligation,” Zuru told the trainers, charging them to participate actively in delivering quality training that strengthens electoral integrity.
Also speaking, the Acting Director-General of TEI, Professor Ibrahim Sani, described the ToT as a national service and an honour. He reaffirmed its core objective: equipping master trainers with the knowledge and skills needed to guide polling unit officials effectively.
Sani highlighted that the training covers operational and technical procedures, including familiarization with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other election-day protocols designed to ensure transparency and voter confidence.
