INEC Begins Training for Voter Registration Officers in Gombe

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Gombe State has commenced a training programme for Registration Area Officers (RAOs) in preparation for the in-person phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

The training, held at the Women Development Centre, brought together RAOs and Electoral Officers from all 11 local government areas, along with staff from the Voter Registry/ICT department and members of the State Management Team.

Speaking at the opening session on Friday, Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sa’ad Idris, described voter registration as the foundation of any credible electoral process.

“The credibility of any election begins with a credible registration process,” he said.

Idris emphasized that the exercise would be strictly professional, warning that the process would not be “business as usual.” He urged staff to demonstrate integrity and diligence, noting that violations such as unauthorized delegation of duties would attract strict sanctions.

He reassured participants that all financial entitlements would be fully paid.

To support public engagement, the REC approved the distribution of public address systems to all local government INEC offices to boost voter education and sensitisation.

He also directed the Head of the VR/ICT unit to ensure proper configuration of the INEC Voter Enlightenment Devices and emphasized practical simulations during the training.

“We want to ensure that both our staff and the public are adequately prepared for this important exercise,” Idris concluded.

The REC also pledged to personally monitor the registration process through field visits and feedback mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the CVR exercise.