The Independent National Electoral Commission has urged its officials in Ondo State to strengthen election monitoring, coordination and operational support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Mutiu Agboke, gave the charge on Friday in Akure during a two-day workshop for implementers of the commission’s Election Monitoring and Support Centre Amber Zone framework.
Agboke, represented by the commission’s Administrative Secretary in Ondo State, Mrs Temitayo Adelusi, said the training was designed to prepare electoral officers for their responsibilities under the operational framework and improve the management of the forthcoming elections.
Participants included Electoral Officers in charge of operations, Assistant Electoral Officers and desk officers drawn from the state’s 18 local government areas.
According to the REC, the EMSC provides a coordinated system for collecting, validating and communicating election-related data, particularly in amber and red zones, to improve monitoring and support operations.
He said the 2027 operational guidelines clearly defined the responsibilities of implementers, urging participants to familiarise themselves with the procedures required for effective election management.
Agboke stressed that a thorough understanding of the framework was necessary for the smooth conduct of elections, adding that the commission had also trained security personnel on electoral risk management.
He described elections as a process rather than a one-day event, noting that adequate security was required at every stage to protect voters, electoral officials and sensitive materials.
The REC urged security agencies to work closely with INEC to ensure effective security arrangements, particularly at collation centres.
Earlier, the Head of the Department of Planning and Monitoring, Alhaji Abdulwasiu Oludegun, described the EMSC as a strategic tool for moving the commission away from crisis-driven responses towards proactive election management.
He explained that the framework was designed to monitor activities before, during and after elections through a standardised reporting system covering different operational zones.
Oludegun said the workshop would help participants understand their duties in tracking and reporting developments within amber and red zones ahead of the 2027 polls.
He added that the training would improve the collection and submission of field reports to the commission’s headquarters, particularly in terms of accuracy, completeness, timeliness and compliance with established procedures.
