Nigeria’s electoral body has launched a nationwide training initiative to prepare officials for the upcoming voter registration drive, a critical step toward the 2027 general elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) began a Training of Trainers (ToT) program this week at its Abuja-based Electoral Institute (TEI), targeting master trainers tasked with equipping local registration officers with technical and legal expertise.
The exercise aims to streamline the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), a process seen as foundational to credible elections. Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, Chairman of the Electoral Institute’s board, emphasized via his representative, Nwanneka Nwala, that an accurate voter register is vital for electoral integrity. “Free, fair, and inclusive elections begin with a credible Register of Voters,” he stated, noting the CVR’s role as the “first key activity” in Nigeria’s electoral cycle.
Scheduled to start on August 18, 2025, the online voter registration phase will allow citizens to initiate the process digitally before completing it in person at designated centers from August 25. Prof. Zuru highlighted new digital upgrades to the CVR system, including hybrid online and in-person registration options designed to reduce overcrowding and improve accessibility. These upgrades align with INEC’s broader efforts to modernize enrollment through its Voter Enrolment Device (IVED), a system requiring technical mastery by registration officers.
The ToT program underscores INEC’s focus on legal compliance and operational efficiency. Participants, drawn from across Nigeria, will study the 2022 Electoral Act, CVR guidelines, and IVED technical protocols before cascading this knowledge to state and local levels. “There is no shortcut to success,” Prof. Zuru cautioned, urging trainers to prioritize “sustained and thorough training” to ensure registration officers perform optimally.
He also acknowledged the support of INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, framing the training as a collective responsibility to deliver transparent and inclusive elections. The initiative marks INEC’s latest bid to strengthen public trust in electoral processes, leveraging technology and capacity-building to address past challenges like logistical bottlenecks and low voter participation.
With Nigeria’s electoral history often marred by disputes over voter validity and turnout, the commission’s preemptive measures reflect its intent to bolster confidence in the 2027 polls. The success of the CVR—and by extension, the elections—will depend on how effectively these trained personnel navigate both legal frameworks and on-the-ground realities in a nation of over 200 million people.
