The Enugu State Local Government Election Observers Training prepared 50 young people to observe and document the 2026 local government elections across eight Local Government Areas.
South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria and JDPC, organised the training ahead of the Enugu State Local Government Chairmanship and Councillorship elections.
The training focused on equipping young people with the practical knowledge required to observe polling activities, document information accurately, and report issues that arise during the electoral process.
Preparing Election Observers for the 2026 Elections
Election observation requires observers to understand both the polling process and their responsibilities in documenting what they see.
During the Enugu State Local Government Election Observers Training, participants received practical guidance on monitoring polling processes and recording their observations accurately.
They also learned how to identify and report incidents and understand the roles and responsibilities of key actors throughout the electoral process.
This preparation provides observers with a common understanding of what to monitor and how to document their observations from polling locations.
From Training to Election Observation
Following the training, the 50 young observers were deployed across eight Local Government Areas for the 2026 elections.
Their role is to observe polling activities and provide structured information on what takes place at their assigned locations.
This creates an avenue for young people to participate directly in the electoral process beyond voting.
It also supports the documentation of experiences from polling points, including issues that may require attention during or after the elections.
Building on Previous Election Observation
The training builds on SSDO’s previous work with ActionAid Nigeria and JDPC during the 2024 Enugu State Local Government elections.
Ahead of the 2024 elections, the partners engaged ENSIEC, security agencies, political parties, traditional and religious leaders, youth groups, and women’s groups on supporting a peaceful electoral process.
The engagement contributed to a peace accord signed by participating political parties. Trained observers were also deployed across all 17 Local Government Areas.
The 2026 training therefore continues an approach that combines youth participation, election observation, and engagement with relevant electoral stakeholders.
Supporting Youth Participation in Local Governance
Young people have an important role to play in documenting and understanding local electoral processes.
Through the Enugu State Local Government Election Observers Training, participants gained practical experience in election observation while contributing to the documentation of the 2026 polls.
For SSDO, this work forms part of broader efforts to strengthen citizen participation, accountability, and engagement with local governance processes in Enugu State.