INEC trains political parties on candidate nomination portal
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a two-day refresher training for political parties on the use of its Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP), in a move aimed at reducing procedural errors in the nomination of candidates ahead of forthcoming bye-elections and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections. The training, which began on […]
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a two-day refresher training for political parties on the use of its Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP), in a move aimed at reducing procedural errors in the nomination of candidates ahead of forthcoming bye-elections and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.
The training, which began on Wednesday at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, brought together key officials from various registered political parties. Some of the participants had earlier been trained before the 2023 general elections.
In her remarks, INEC National Commissioner and Chairperson of the Legal Services, Clearance and Complaints Committee, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, stressed the importance of accurate and timely submission of candidates’ details by political parties.
“Nomination of candidates is not only a statutory obligation as provided in Section 29 of the Electoral Act, 2022, but the very foundation upon which elections are conducted,” she said.
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Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu noted that while the introduction of the ICNP has helped reduce paperwork and improved compliance in previous elections, parties still grapple with challenges such as incomplete form submissions, improper document attachments, and frequent turnover of party personnel managing the process.
“This refresher training is designed to bridge those gaps and ensure that both returning and newly appointed party officials have the knowledge and skills necessary for a smooth nomination process,” she added.
Also speaking, Mr. Samuel Omale, Assistant Director in the Legal Drafting and Clearance Department of INEC, explained that the workshop was not a routine exercise but a strategic intervention to deepen capacity and prevent avoidable mistakes in future nominations.
“The objective is to refresh political parties on the approved guidelines for the nomination of candidates as outlined in the Electoral Act, 2022, while equipping them with practical knowledge of the nomination process,” he said.
The sessions included live demonstrations of how to make timely and correct submissions via the Candidate Nomination Portal.
Omale said the training would enable participants to ask questions, seek clarifications, and foster better collaboration between INEC and the political parties.