The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has kicked off a two-day training for political party officials on the effective use of its Candidate Nomination Portal as part of measures to ensure a seamless nomination process for the 2027 General Elections.
The training, which began on Thursday, June 25, and ends today June 26, 2026 at The Electoral Institute (TEI), is designed to equip party officials responsible for nominating and electronically submitting candidates’ details with the necessary skills and procedures.
In a welcome address, the Director of Information and Communication Technology at INEC, Dr. Bayode Lawrence, who was represented by Deputy Director, IT, Mrs. Anthonia Idemudia, said the programme aligns with the Commission’s tradition of preparing all stakeholders for key electoral activities.
She emphasised that the training aims to familiarise party officials with the processes for uploading essential documents of candidates nominated for the 2027 polls.
Idemudia noted that the exercise would be particularly beneficial for first-time participants, helping to minimise avoidable errors and ensure a hitch-free nomination period.
Delivering the keynote address, the Acting Director-General of The Electoral Institute, Prof. Ibrahim Sani, who stood in for the National Commissioner and Chairperson of the Legal Services, Clearance, and Complaint Committee, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, described candidate nomination as the foundation of any credible election.
“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,” Prof. Sani said.
He reminded parties that the Electoral Act 2026 places the responsibility on them to submit details of their sponsored candidates within stipulated timelines and in the approved format. He added that INEC had already released its Timetable and Schedule of Activities, with candidate nomination set to commence on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
“Compliance at the nomination stage contributes significantly to reducing disputes, enhancing certainty, and strengthening public confidence in the electoral process,” Prof. Sani stated.
Also addressing the participants, Director of Legal Drafting and Compliance, Mrs. Rakiya Na’Uzo Adamu, said the training focused on the approved Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates under the Electoral Act 2026.
She explained that the programme was structured to tackle challenges observed in previous exercises, reduce errors in completing nomination forms, and promote full compliance with electoral requirements.
Participants later broke into sessions where officials from the Legal Drafting and Compliance team took them through practical aspects of the guidelines and clarified grey areas in the nomination process.
