The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a high-level Training of Trainers (ToT) programme at The Electoral Institute (TEI) in Abuja, intensifying preparations for sixteen crucial bye-elections scheduled for August 16th, 2025.
Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, Chairman of TEI’s Board (BEI), opened the session by outlining the scope of the polls: “The Commission has announced the conduct of sixteen bye-Elections, in Twelve States and Thirty-two Local Government Areas across the nation.” He emphasized INEC’s approval of TEI’s “cascade training plan,” where participants will train Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), Presiding Officers (POs), and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) nationwide.
Zuru stressed the training’s vital role in upholding electoral integrity, stating INEC’s commitment to “ensuring continuous improvement through progressive innovations and rectification of identified challenges.” He outlined key requirements for personnel:
i. Full familiarity with electoral laws.
ii. Proficiency in critical technologies, specifically:
✓ “scanning and upload of Election Results using the improved IReV Mobile App”
✓ Correct use of Form EC 40G(PU) for documenting cancelled or non-held polling units.
While acknowledging successes in recent Edo and Ondo governorship elections, Zuru declared retraining “imperative” for these bye-elections and court-ordered re-runs. He framed the August 16th polls as critically important, occurring “at the eve of the Anambra off-cycle Governorship Election,” and essential to maintaining INEC’s reputation for “free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections.” He concluded by urging trainers to participate actively, reminding them of their shared “responsibility and obligation.”
Echoing Zuru’s emphasis, TEI’s Acting Director General, Professor Ibrahim Sani, welcomed participants, calling the ToT an “honour.” He confirmed the core objective: equipping trainers to effectively instruct polling unit officials nationwide.
Sani specifically highlighted the programme’s inclusion of essential “familiarization with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS),” to be demonstrated by the ICT Department. He reinforced the trainers’ crucial role with a direct appeal: “give this training all the attention it deserves… to ensure free, fair, credible and inclusive Bye-Elections.”
The successful rollout of this nationwide cascade training is seen as fundamental to INEC’s ability to deliver credible and well-managed polls across the twelve affected states on August 16th.