By Mercy Peter
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, January 9, 2026, commenced a high-level orientation and onboarding retreat for its newly appointed leadership.
This is to ensure strategic planning, institutional cohesion and renewed commitment to credible elections ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The retreat, holding at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State, brought together the newly appointed Chairman, National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), senior management staff, and key stakeholders of the Commission.
Delivering the welcome address on behalf of the Lagos State Office of INEC, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State, Prof. Ayobami Salami, described the retreat as a defining moment in the institutional journey of the Commission.
Prof. Salami said: “This retreat marks a significant milestone in the continuous evolution of our Commission.
“It is a crucial platform for reflection, strategic alignment and institutional consolidation, particularly at a time when public expectations of the electoral process are higher than ever.”
The Lagos REC emphasized that the retreat was deliberately designed to strengthen leadership capacity, deepen institutional understanding, and enhance operational preparedness across the Commission.
He added that the sessions would also help reaffirm INEC’s commitment to its constitutional mandate of conducting free, fair and credible elections.
“With the 2027 General Election on the horizon, early planning, strategic coordination and institutional cohesion cannot be overstated,” Prof. Salami stressed. “We must not drop the ball.”
He noted that beyond technical briefings, the retreat would provide an opportunity for peer engagement, institutional bonding and the exchange of ideas among INEC’s leadership, thereby strengthening the Commission as a unified body.
Prof. Salami congratulated the newly appointed Honourable Chairman, National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners on their well-deserved appointments and urged them to participate actively in the deliberations.
“Together, we must continue to build an electoral system that inspires confidence and upholds the democratic aspirations of our nation,” he said.
He concluded by once again welcoming participants to Lagos State, describing it as Nigeria’s “undisputed Centre of Excellence and city of aquatic splendour,” and wished the Commission fruitful deliberations and an impactful retreat.
