The Independent National Electoral Commission has urged its voter education officers to maintain professionalism and accuracy in their dealings with citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission said the officers must provide clear information on voting procedures, citizens’ rights and responsibilities to help address misinformation and doubts surrounding the electoral process.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, gave the charge on Friday in Akure during a one-day capacity-building workshop for Voter Education Desk Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers drawn from Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states.
Agboke described voter education as central to the success of democratic elections, urging the officers to take accurate information to communities in simple and accessible language.
He stressed that young people, women, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, elderly citizens, first-time voters and residents of remote communities should be adequately covered by voter education programmes.
The REC said the officers should not only disseminate information but also listen to citizens, identify misconceptions and provide answers based on official electoral guidelines.
Agboke also urged the participants to approach their responsibilities with diligence, humility and a strong sense of duty, noting that effective voter education could help reduce voter apathy and misinformation.
In his welcome address, the Head of Voter Education and Publicity Department in the Ondo State office of INEC, Olayinka Ogunseye, urged the officers to disseminate only authorised information through appropriate channels.
He said the workshop was designed to strengthen their skills for effective planning and execution of voter education activities.
One of the participants, Adekunle Ganiyu, said the training had equipped him with the skills needed to carry out voter education duties at the local government level, promising to intensify awareness among voters.
