INEC Trains Officers to Protect Institutional Memory Ahead of 2027

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun training its Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) on better archiving and documentation practices ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

The two-day capacity-building workshop brought together PAOs from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to strengthen the commission’s system for preserving institutional records.

The Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) Department organised the workshop in Abuja on Tuesday and Wednesday under the theme, “Preserving Institutional Memory Through Effective Archiving and Documentation.”

Declaring the workshop open, the Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, described proper archiving as a critical function that the commission had not given enough attention.

Haruna, who was represented by the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said preserving records would help INEC retain valuable lessons from previous elections.

“It is a key leg in the department that we have our archiving done properly, for posterity, for reference, for lesson learning,” he said.

He noted that election materials and records from previous cycles often remain poorly preserved at the state level.

The situation, he said, limits the commission’s ability to compare past experiences and use them to improve future electoral operations.

To address the gap, INEC recently established the Graphics, Library and Documentation (GLD) Division.

Haruna urged the participating officers to take the training seriously because they would also serve as GLD Desk Officers in their respective states.

He said the officers should return to their offices ready to support the new documentation system and improve the preservation of commission records.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, also urged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the workshop.

Oketola said the officers had a responsibility to help preserve the commission’s institutional memory as preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace.

The Deputy Director of Graphics, Library and Documentation said the workshop marked a return to proper standards in records management.

She noted that some state offices could not readily produce records of previous commission activities.

Such gaps, she said, could weaken the credibility and institutional authority of INEC’s information officers.

“The Commission’s credibility rests as much on its memory as on its neutrality. You cannot defend a decision you can no longer explain,” she said.

She warned that inadequate documentation could also lead to inconsistent application of guidelines across state and local offices.

It could further expose the commission to litigation and create challenges for public confidence.

Quoting writer Adjori Augustine, she said, “what you don’t put down doesn’t exist.”

She stressed that proper documentation gives officers the evidence needed to explain and defend the commission’s decisions and history.

As part of the new initiative, INEC plans to establish a central and secure archive for its records.

The archive will contain election guidelines, results documentation, litigation records and post-election reviews.

It will also preserve photographs and other materials from the commission’s activities across the country.

The commission considers the archive important as it prepares for the 2027 General Elections and seeks to make past records easier to access.

Participants will undergo practical sessions on digital documentation as part of the training.

INEC also plans further engagements to monitor implementation of the new archiving standards across the states.

The commission expects the initiative to improve record keeping and ensure that lessons from previous electoral exercises remain available for future planning.