On July 1, 2024, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held a three-day retreat for ten (10) newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
The retreat, which was held in Lagos state, was supported by the European Union through DAI, one of its implementing partners and Monitoring and Evaluation Lead for the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN).
The retreat provided INEC the opportunity to help the new RECs to become acquainted with the processes and procedures of the Commission, particularly in line with its mandate to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria.
Speaking during the event, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu described the induction retreat as normal and apt, particularly as it not only helps the new RECs get familiar with the processes and procedures of the commission, but is also an opportunity to review performance, reappraise processes, discuss innovations, engage service providers, interphase with lawmakers on critical areas of reform, and explore new frontiers in its continuous effort to improve its organisational capacity for better service delivery.
He also stated that the retreat was being held against the background of forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.
“Today, we are holding another retreat to induct ten (10) new Resident Electoral Commissioners; nine (9) of them were sworn-in on December 12, 2023, and one on January 30, 2024.
“Many of you may recall that this is the fifth retreat organised by the Commission in the last two years. In March 2022, we had an induction retreat for new National Commissioners, followed by another one for election logistics in October, then another retreat for new Resident Electoral Commissioners in November. The most recent retreat was held in August last year, dedicated to the review of the 2023 general election.
“In a matter of weeks after the swearing-in, many of the new RECs were confronted by rerun elections in a few locations in some constituencies. The reality of the work we do in INEC is that there is no election season in Nigeria at all; elections are held all year round, in addition to numerous electoral activities such as voter registration.
“In addition, there are five (5) pending bye-elections; one federal constituency in Jigawa state, and four state constituencies in Rivers, Kano, Kaduna, and Adamawa states. The outstanding elections bring the total of such elections to 14, since the inauguration of the National and State Assemblies in June last year,” he said.
Prof. Yakubu further disclosed that there are four (4) major elections before the next general election in 2027. “The Anambra state governorship election next year will be followed in 2026 by the Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections. I must remind you, in case you forget, about the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also holding in 2026.
“Therefore, as we think, reflect, and innovate for credible elections, we are also instantly implementing the reforms and innovations that we can introduce by administrative action. Since election is a process governed by law, we also plan to intensify our engagement with the National Assembly for activities that require legal reform.”
In his remarks, the Team Lead for DAI, Rudolf Elbing, said, “The REC is responsible for the overall conduct and supervision of the federal and state elections, as well as the Area Council election. The REC has to do a lot of tasks concurrently, be very detail-oriented, and have to work under an enormous pressure which comes from left, right, and centre.
“No better way to get new experience than sitting here with the best election administration experts you have here in Nigeria and the world.”
One of INEC’s National Commissioners, Major General M. A. Alkali (Rtd), explained that induction retreats are part of training processes for INEC. “This induction is to put the new Resident Electoral Commissioners through on the processes of the Commission, so that they understand how it works, and Nigerians are watching; they know that we train, and are committed and serious. Putting people who are new into the overall process of INEC is key to successful free and fair elections.”
Resident Electoral Commissioner, Plateau state, Dr. Oliver Tersoo Agundu, added, “The Commission, in partnership with some other political stakeholders, deemed it wise to give them (new RECs) the necessary orientation and some training so that they will be better positioned and abreast with some of the responsibilities that will be assigned to them, and how best to discharge them.”
-END-
