By Miriam Humbe
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Monday launched a two-day anti-corruption workshop for electoral officials.
The workshop was aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and ethical standards ahead of the 2027 general election.
Themed: “Corruption-Free Election: Integrity Matters (C-FEIM),” the workshop was held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
It was and aimed to equip electoral officers with the knowledge and tools needed to prevent fraud, malpractice and abuse of office in the conduct of elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan said the training was timely, and aligned with the Commission’s ongoing preparations for the 2027 general election.
The INEC Chairman was speaking at the opening ceremony while being represented by the National Commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu.
She said that it was the responsibility of INEC to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process, as elections remained the bedrock of democracy, so any compromise in their conduct weakened public confidence in governance and national institutions.
Agbamuche-Mbu said that the workshop was designed to strengthen the capacity of electoral officials, expose them to international best practices and develop practical recommendations that would enhance the credibility and transparency of future elections.
She commended the ICPC for providing experienced resource persons for the training and urged participants to actively engage in the sessions, share experiences and apply the knowledge gained in future electoral assignments.
Chairman of ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu (SAN), represented by the Commission’s Director of Legal Services, Henry Emore, described corruption as one of the greatest threats to national development, and warned that electoral malpractice carried enormous financial, legal and institutional consequences.
He said that compromised elections often led to supplementary polls, increased security deployments, prolonged litigation and a rise in election petitions, all of which placed additional pressure on government institutions, including anti-corruption agencies.
Emore said that the credibility of any election depended largely on the integrity, accountability and professionalism of the officials responsible for managing the electoral process.
He said the partnership between INEC and ICPC demonstrated the commitment of both institutions to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy through preventive anti-corruption measures rather than relying solely on enforcement after electoral offences have occurred.
He also commended electoral officers for their dedication and resilience and observed that many worked under difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions to ensure Nigerians are able to exercise their democratic rights.
The workshop was expected to produce practical strategies for preventing corruption within the electoral process as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general election.
Both INEC and ICPC were confident that strengthening ethical standards among election officials would boost public trust and enhance the credibility of future elections.
