The two-day workshop, themed “Elections, Community Mobilisation, The Law and The Media,” is scheduled to hold from September 22 to 23, 2026.

According to a statement signed by the workshop’s Executive Consultant, Dr Bolu Folayan, and made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday, the training will focus on inter-agency cooperation and coordination, community engagement before, during and after elections, as well as professional conduct and accountability among stakeholders.

Governor Dapo Abiodun is expected to declare the workshop open and deliver the keynote address, while lawyer and public relations expert, Prof Fassy Yusuf, will present the lead paper.

Folayan said the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act and Police Act assigned various responsibilities to stakeholders during elections, noting that inadequate knowledge of these roles could create problems capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.

He said improved understanding of electoral laws, inter-agency cooperation, media relations and community engagement would contribute to successful elections.

Folayan said, “The Constitution sets the red lines. Security must protect these rights. Media must exercise them responsibly. No security operation should infringe on these without due process. That’s the way to have credible elections, and that’s the goal of this training.”

He added that one of the major outcomes of the workshop would be the signing of a “Responsive and Responsible Professionalism Charter” by participating stakeholders.

About 520 participants are expected at the workshop, including representatives of major political parties, Divisional Police Officers, zonal and area commanders, Police Community Relations Committees, the State Independent Electoral Commission and the Department of State Services, among others.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening cooperation among security agencies, political actors, the media and communities ahead of the 2027 general elections.