From Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu
The Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (YOSIEC) has commenced the training of Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers ahead of the September, 2026 Local Council elections, with a charge on participants to uphold professionalism, integrity, and transparency throughout the electoral process.
Speaking at the opening of the training held on Wednesday at the Commission’s Conference Hall in Damaturu, the Executive Chairman of YOSIEC, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Yabani, described the exercise as a critical step in the Commission’s preparations for the elections.
He said the conduct of the Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers would largely determine the credibility and success of the polls.
“As we approach the Local Government Council elections scheduled for September 26, 2026, our collective integrity, accuracy, and diligence will ultimately determine the success of this democratic exercise,” he said.
Dr Yabani disclosed that the elections would be conducted simultaneously across the state’s 17 Local Government Areas and 178 electoral wards.
He noted that the Commission derives its mandate from Section 197 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which empowers State Independent Electoral Commissions to organise, conduct, and supervise local government council elections.
According to him, YOSIEC had already issued the election timetable and guidelines on April 23, 2026, and has remained committed to implementing every stage of the electoral process in line with the approved schedule.
He added that the training was designed to strengthen the capacity of election officials and ensure strict compliance with electoral procedures, particularly in the distribution of election materials, timely opening of polling units, ballot sorting and counting, vote recording, and result documentation.
He emphasised that the credibility of any election begins with the early distribution of election materials and the prompt commencement of voting, adding that the most sensitive stage of the process begins after the close of polls.
“Every single ballot must be systematically accounted for. Once sorting and counting are completed, the accurate transfer of results onto the official result sheets is absolute and non-negotiable,” he said.
He urged participants to pay close attention to the facilitators and cooperate fully during the training.
The Chairman explained that the facilitators were carefully selected from the state’s three senatorial districts to ensure balanced representation and effective knowledge sharing.
He expressed confidence that the training would equip election officials with the necessary skills to deliver a credible, free, and fair Local Government Council election across Yobe State.
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