The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has organized a two-day refresher training workshop to equip political party officials with updated knowledge and skills on using its Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP) ahead of upcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and bye-elections.
Held at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, the training brought together key representatives from registered political parties — including both returning and newly appointed officials — with the aim of enhancing their capacity and minimizing procedural errors in the nomination of candidates.
Speaking during the opening session, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, National Commissioner and Chairperson of INEC’s Legal Services, Clearance and Complaints Committee (LSC&CC), underscored the critical role that proper nomination procedures play in the electoral process.
“Nomination of candidates is not only a statutory obligation under Section 29 of the Electoral Act, 2022, but it is the very foundation upon which elections are conducted,” she said. “Errors in submitting candidate details can be detrimental to both the party and its candidate.”
Agbamuche-Mbu noted that while the ICNP has significantly reduced paperwork and improved compliance, many parties still struggle with incomplete submissions, incorrect document uploads, and frequent turnover of staff managing the nomination process. She described the refresher workshop as a timely intervention to bridge those gaps and promote consistency.
INEC’s Assistant Director of Legal Drafting and Clearance, Samuel Omale, echoed similar sentiments. He explained that the refresher was strategically designed to reinforce understanding of the nomination guidelines outlined in the Electoral Act, while offering practical, hands-on training on navigating the ICNP platform.
“This is not just routine,” Omale said. “It is a deliberate and proactive step to ensure that political parties are better prepared, more accurate, and technologically confident in the nomination process.”
The workshop included live demonstrations, breakout sessions, and open dialogue between INEC officials and party representatives, allowing space for questions and clarifications. The Legal and ICT departments co-hosted the training and pledged continued support for participants.
Omale expressed optimism that the exercise would lead to a stronger collaborative framework between INEC and political parties, fewer nomination errors, and improved trust in the system.
Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu closed the session by urging participants to fully leverage the opportunity, emphasizing that collective preparedness remains a cornerstone of credible elections.
This initiative reinforces INEC’s commitment to leveraging technology to strengthen electoral transparency, build capacity among political stakeholders, and uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic processes.
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