The European Union (EU) in Nigeria is supporting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to develop what officials describe as the commission’s first formally documented monitoring and evaluation instrument ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The instrument is being developed through a workshop held in Lagos on Friday under the European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme.
The initiative, implemented by DAI under the EU-SDGN programme, is designed to strengthen INEC’s planning, monitoring and evaluation processes and ensure that preparations for the 2027 elections are guided by measurable results and credible evidence.
The Director of the Planning and Monitoring Department at INEC headquarters, Mrs Helen Ajayi, said the workshop came at a critical stage of the electoral cycle.
“This workshop comes at a very important time in the electoral cycle. As the commission continues preparations for the 2027 general election, there is a growing need to ensure that our planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes are firmly anchored on measurable results and credible evidence,” she said.
Ajayi urged staff of the Planning and Monitoring Department to approach the training with an open mind and focus on how the principles discussed could be applied to their day-to-day responsibilities.
“I encourage all staff of the Planning and Monitoring Department seated here today to approach this workshop with an open mind and a practical orientation,” she said.
She also encouraged participants to engage actively with the facilitators and share experiences from their work across the country.
“As we collectively work towards the 2027 general election, our goal must be to strengthen a planning and monitoring system that is results-oriented, evidence-driven, timely, accountable and capable of supporting the commission to deliver credible elections,” Ajayi said.
The Election Administration Expert at DAI, Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu, described monitoring and evaluation as central to improving the commission’s electoral work.
“The heart of all this is monitoring and evaluation, and that is why this meeting is very, very important. I implore all of you to take this seriously,” Ibeanu said.
He said the workshop marked a significant milestone for INEC, as it would lead to the development of the commission’s first formally documented monitoring and evaluation instrument.
“For the first time, you will be developing the first documented instrument for monitoring and evaluation ever created by the commission,” he said.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the European Union to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral institutions and improve the planning and delivery of elections.
With preparations for the 2027 general elections already under way, the new monitoring and evaluation framework is expected to help INEC track its activities, assess performance, measure progress and identify areas requiring improvement throughout the electoral cycle.