The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has organized a two-day refresher training workshop for political party officials on the use of its Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP). The training, which took place on Wednesday at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, aims to enhance the capacity of political parties and reduce procedural errors in candidate nominations.
The workshop brought together key representatives from registered political parties, including some who had previously been trained ahead of the 2023 General Election. It seeks to build on achievements from previous cycles and ensure a more efficient, transparent, and technologically seamless nomination process for upcoming bye-elections and the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.
Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, National Commissioner and Chairperson of the Legal Services, Clearance and Complaints Committee (LSC&CC), emphasized the critical importance of accurate and timely nominations in the electoral process during her welcome address.
"Nomination of candidates is not only a statutory obligation as provided in Section 29 of the Electoral Act, 2022, but it is the very foundation upon which elections are conducted," she stated. "An error in the submission of personal particulars of candidates by political parties can be potentially detrimental to both the party and its candidate."
She acknowledged that despite progress with the ICNP in reducing paperwork and improving compliance, political parties still face challenges such as incomplete form submissions, improper document attachments, and frequent turnover of personnel managing the nomination 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.
Strategic Focus of the Training
Samuel Omale, Assistant Director in the Legal Drafting and Clearance Department, outlined that the workshop was designed as a timely intervention to deepen the capacity of political party officials ahead of upcoming FCT and bye-elections.
"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 explained.
Omale further elaborated that the training sought to enhance parties' familiarity with the Commission's internal procedures, particularly through live demonstrations on how to make timely and correct submissions via the ICNP.
The sessions also provided space for open dialogue between the Commission and party representatives, offering opportunities to ask questions, seek clarifications, and find common ground on issues related to the nomination process.
Participants were divided into two groups for more interactive and practical sessions. INEC's Legal and ICT Departments co-hosted the training and will be available for follow-up guidance and support.
Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu urged party officials to maximize the training, noting that "our collective preparedness is a determinant of the overall success of the electoral process."
The initiative reaffirms INEC's commitment to using technology to strengthen electoral integrity, improve compliance, and build capacity among political actors to ensure credible and inclusive elections.
In related news, INEC has announced that the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will begin on August 18, 2025, as preparations for the 2027 general elections get underway.
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