Ahead of the forthcoming off-cycle November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state has conducted a two-day workshop for senior staff of the commission on effective communication within the electoral space.

The training was facilitated by the International Press Centre (IPC) with the support of the European Union (EU) and DAI.

The workshop with the theme ‘Effective Communication in the Electoral Process: Communicating with Empathy and Expertise’ was designed to improve the communication skills of the participants to ensure they can engage effectively with voters, political parties, and other stakeholders with utmost professionalism.

Speaking at the workshop, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, emphasised the workshop’s critical goal in ensuring the success of the upcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

According to her, effective communication is fundamental to the electoral process, with a key role in promoting transparency, building trust, and fostering a more inclusive election.

She said: “Therefore, as election managers, there is a need to understand the essence of clear, accurate, and empathic communication.

“INEC staff must understand the audience and manage elections, conflict, and perceptions. They are to foster effective communication strategies to minimise misinformation and disinformation and address the electoral concerns of voters and the public.”

The REC urged the staff to actively engage in the workshop to acquire the necessary skills for connecting with the diverse perspectives and emotions of various voter groups.

“Communication with stakeholders goes beyond simply delivering information; it involves actively listening, engaging thoughtfully, and responding with care to the concerns of all voters, especially marginalised groups such as persons with disabilities, women, and youth.”

On his part, the Executive Director of the IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, emphasised the critical role the media and communication professionals play in the democratic process.

He stressed that the training will strengthen the capacity of INEC officials to relay electoral information efficiently and to interact with the media transparently and professionally.