The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has conducted a two-day workshop aimed at equipping political parties with updated knowledge on how to properly use its Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP). The training was held to boost their capacity and minimise common errors during the nomination of candidates for upcoming by-elections and the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.
According to Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, the training is part of the commission’s efforts to ensure a more transparent and technology-driven nomination process. She said the programme builds on gains made in past election cycles and is designed to prepare political parties for a smooth experience using the portal.
Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, National Commissioner and Chairperson of the Legal Services, Clearance and Complaints Committee, stressed the importance of accurate candidate nominations. She explained that under Section 29 of the Electoral Act, 2022, submitting candidate details is not only mandatory but also critical to the conduct of credible elections. Mistakes in candidate details, she warned, could harm both the political party and the candidate.
Agbamuche-Mbu noted that while the ICNP has helped reduce paperwork and improved compliance, many political parties still struggle with issues such as incomplete forms, wrong document uploads, and high staff turnover. She said the refresher training was organised to address these problems and ensure that both new and returning party officials understand the nomination process thoroughly.
She urged all participants to take full advantage of the workshop, noting that the collective level of preparedness by political parties plays a major role in the success of elections.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr Samuel Omale, Assistant Director of Legal Drafting and Clearance, said the training was a timely step to strengthen the capacity of political party officials. He explained that the session was not just a formality, but an intervention to familiarise participants with the guidelines in the Electoral Act and show them how to effectively use the ICNP.
Omale added that live demonstrations during the workshop were intended to help participants understand how to make timely and accurate submissions on the portal. He expressed confidence that the training would lead to fewer errors, better cooperation between INEC and parties, and increased trust in the overall nomination process.
