NIGERIA: INEC Trains Political Parties On Candidate Nomination Portal Ahead Of 2027 Elections

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a two-day training programme for officials of political parties on the use of the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP) as part of preparations for the 2027 General Election.

The training, which began on Wednesday at The Electoral Institute (TEI) in Abuja, is aimed at equipping political party officials involved in the nomination and electronic submission of candidates’ documents with the knowledge and procedures required to ensure a smooth nomination process.

Speaking at the opening of the programme, the Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Dr. Bayode Lawrence, represented by the Deputy Director of IT, Mrs. Anthonia Idemudia, said the training was in line with INEC’s commitment to ensuring that stakeholders are adequately prepared for electoral activities.

She explained that the exercise was designed to familiarize political party officials with the procedures for uploading critical documents of candidates nominated to contest elections under their respective parties.

According to her, the training is particularly important for officials participating in the nomination process for the first time, as it will help reduce avoidable errors and ensure a hitch-free exercise.

Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the National Commissioner and Chairperson of the Legal Services, Clearance and Complaint Committee, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, the Acting Director-General of The Electoral Institute, Prof. Ibrahim Sani, described candidate nomination as one of the most important stages of the electoral process.

He noted that properly conducted nominations form the foundation of credible elections, stressing that political parties must understand and comply with all legal and procedural requirements governing the process.

“Nomination of candidates remains one of the most critical stages of the electoral process. Indeed, it is the foundation upon which elections are conducted. Without duly nominated candidates, there can be no electoral contest,” he said.

Prof. Sani stated that the Electoral Act 2026 places responsibility on political parties to submit details of their sponsored candidates within approved timelines and formats. He added that INEC’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities had already been released, with candidate nomination expected to commence on Saturday.

He said compliance at the nomination stage would help reduce disputes, improve certainty and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

Also speaking, the Director of Legal Drafting and Compliance, Mrs. Rakiya Na’Uzo Adamu, said the programme was structured to train political parties on the approved Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates as provided under the Electoral Act 2026.

She noted that the training would address challenges encountered during previous nomination exercises, reduce errors in the completion of nomination forms and improve compliance with electoral requirements.

Following the opening session, participants moved into breakout sessions where members of the Legal Drafting and Compliance team guided them through the guidelines for candidate nominations and other practical aspects of the nomination process ahead of the 2027 General Election.