CONDUCT OF TRAINING OF TRAINERS (ToT) IN PREPARATION FOR THE FCT 2026 AREA COUNCIL AND BYE-ELECTIONS IN RIVERS AND KANO STATES, SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE ON FEBRUARY 21ST, 2026

opeolumartinFebruary 5, 202604 mins

Abuja, Nigeria, Monday, 4th February, 2026

The Electoral Institute (TEI) on Monday, 4th February, 2026, conducted a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) as part of preparations for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections and the Bye-Elections scheduled to hold in Rivers and Kano States on February 21st, 2026.

The Training-of-Trainers was designed to equip participants with the requisite knowledge, skills, and competencies to effectively cascade electoral processes and procedures to Poll Officials ahead of the elections. The training forms a critical component of the Institute’s capacity-building strategy aimed at ensuring the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board of the Electoral Institute, Professor Kunle Ajayi, emphasized the importance of active participation and total commitment by all trainees. He urged participants to pay close attention to every aspect of the training and engage fully in all sessions, noting that their understanding and performance would significantly contribute to the overall success of the elections.
The Acting Director General of the Electoral Institute, Professor Ibrahim Sani, reinforced this position by highlighting the high expectations of the public regarding the forthcoming elections. He encouraged participants to be open, receptive, and dedicated throughout the training, stressing that their role as trainers is pivotal to delivering credible, transparent, and acceptable electoral outcomes.

Also speaking at the event, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), FCT, Alhaji Aminu Kasimu Idris, called on facilitators to ensure that the training sessions were practical and interactive. He underscored the importance of hands-on engagement with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other relevant e-learning platforms to enhance participants’ operational readiness.
The Director of Operations, Magaji Isa Gummi, expressed confidence in the quality and caliber of the participants drawn from various departments. He noted that the inter-departmental collaboration fostered by the Training-of-Trainers would play a key role in achieving a successful outcome for the forthcoming FCT Area Council Elections and the Bye-Elections in Rivers and Kano States.

Furthermore, it was announced that the Training of Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) is scheduled to hold from 6th to 8th February, 2026, while the training of Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers (POs/APOs) will take place from 13th to 15th February, 2026, across the FCT, Kano, and Rivers States.

The Electoral Institute reaffirmed its commitment to continuous capacity development as a foundation for strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process and deepening democratic governance.