INEC Anambra Holds Electoral Risk Management Workshop Ahead of 2027 General Election

By Felix Oti Awka

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Anambra State, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, has said that the conduct of elections is inherently risky, but that such risks can be managed if identified early.

Dr. Agwu stated this on Wednesday in Awka at an Electoral Risk Management (ERM) Workshop organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as part of preparations for the 2027 General Election.

“Evaluate all your risks and accept it. You must take risks. There is no zero risk. Even drinking water is a risk. Wearing your uniform and coming out in the morning is a risk. Then you decide which ones are manageable risks and you take it,” she said.

The REC said the workshop was convened to examine all aspects of the electoral process, particularly the movement of materials and activities at the Registration Area Centres (RACs), where officials camp overnight before Election Day.

She explained that camping at the RACs is critical to INEC’s readiness and ability to open polls on time. According to her, staying at the RAC allows officials to check the Voters Register, update the list of ad-hoc staff, and verify election materials.

Responding to questions on why INEC insists on activating RACs, she said: “Some will tell me, Madam REC, must you go to RAC? I say yes, it is very important because we have moved closer to the polling units. It makes it easier for us to be there by 7am, and by 8:30am we are set.”

She noted that distributing materials from Local Government Headquarters on Election Day makes it difficult to meet the 8:30am opening time, a situation that often triggers public distrust.

“Nigerians will be there by 7am checking their time and waiting. The moment it is 8:30am they will shout, we are here, INEC is not here, Police is not here, Army is not here,” she added.

The REC said the purpose of the ERM workshop was to map risk areas across the state, understand the nature of insecurity in different terrains, and develop mitigation strategies ahead of deployment.

While acknowledging that the current security situation is relatively calm, she said pockets of insecurity still exist and must be documented.

“We want to find out as we move in the terrain, what are the risk areas, what are the insecure places, what is the nature of insecurity,” she said.

She added that the theoretical risks identified by electoral officers at the workshop would be harmonized with field intelligence from security agencies, including the Police, Army and Department of State Services (DSS), to guide INEC’s deployment plan for the election.

Administrative Secretary Tasks Officers on Accurate Reporting

Delivering her keynote address, the Administrative Secretary of the Commission in Anambra State, Mrs. Anioma Honour Ijeoma, urged participants, especially Electoral Officers and designated personnel, to carry out the exercise with care and commitment.

Mrs. Ijeoma stressed that information collected during the exercise must be accurate, properly verified and based on reality on the ground.

“Reliable information will help the Commission make informed decisions, plan effectively and direct resources to areas where they are most needed,” she said.

She noted that election is an important part of democracy as it gives citizens the opportunity to choose their leaders, adding that to conduct credible, peaceful and inclusive elections, the Commission must be able to identify possible challenges early and take necessary steps to address them.

“This is the importance of Electoral Risk Management. ERM provides a practical way to identify, assess, monitor and manage risks that may affect the electoral process. These risks may include security threats, political tensions, environmental challenges and operational difficulties. If not properly managed, they can disrupt election activities, endanger staff and officials, and reduce public confidence in the electoral process,” she stated.

“This workshop is therefore designed to improve our understanding of ERM and strengthen our capacity to collect reliable information on electoral risks, because it will help the Commission understand the actual situation in different locations and identify areas that may require special attention.”

She further emphasized that effective risk management requires cooperation and collaboration among INEC departments, state and local authorities, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.

“Electoral risk management is not just an official assignment, it is a shared responsibility that contributes to the safety, credibility and success of our elections,” she said.

Workshop Objectives and Security Assurances

According to the organizers, the main objectives of the workshop are centered on enhanced understanding of the ERM framework.

They include:

1. Enhanced Understanding of ERM Framework: To improve participants’ understanding of the framework and its importance to the 2027 polls. This is especially critical as the Planning and Monitoring Department takes the lead at the state level – the first of its kind on ERM sensitization at the state level nationwide.

2. Identification of Electoral Risks: To identify internal and external risk factors across the state and local government areas, with Electoral Officers expected to provide a detailed risk profile of their respective LGAs.

3. Improve Early Warning and Response: To enhance timely reporting of emerging threats and support the development of strategies to prevent or mitigate their impact.

4. Enhanced Stakeholders Collaboration: To promote information sharing and cooperation among INEC officials and security agencies including the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Army, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the media and other stakeholders.

5. Support Evidence-Based Planning: To ensure that information gathered informs the Commission’s planning and decision-making in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

Meanwhile, in their separate goodwill messages, representatives of the Nigerian Police Force, the NSCDC and the DSS assured of their readiness and commitment to making the 2027 general election a success.

A major highlight of the workshop was the introduction of INEC SANS, a toll-free emergency line for both online and offline periods, which was well received by members of staff, especially new staff.

The ERM workshop is part of INEC’s early warning and early response system for the 2027 polls, designed to ensure credible, peaceful and inclusive elections.