The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a capacity-building workshop for its Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) as part of efforts to strengthen election communication ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening PAOs Capacity for Credible, Verified and Responsible Election Communication Towards 2027,” is aimed at equipping the officers with practical communication skills to engage the media effectively and respond to emerging information challenges.
Declaring the workshop open, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, described Public Affairs Officers as frontline communicators who play an important role in connecting INEC with the public.
He said PAOs were responsible for preparing official statements, responding to enquiries and supporting Resident Electoral Commissioners and relevant departments in voter education and publicity.
According to Haruna, the credibility of INEC’s communication depends significantly on the quality and accuracy of information provided by its public affairs personnel.
He noted that the communication environment had become increasingly complex due to the rapid growth of social media and the emergence of generative artificial intelligence.
Haruna also referred to recent remarks by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, at the 13th Annual International Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria, where he highlighted the connection between electoral technology and electoral communication in strengthening election credibility.
He said the workshop would help INEC communication officers develop the capacity to identify, verify and respond appropriately to misinformation and disinformation ahead of the 2027 elections.
