2027 POLLS: INEC OPENS APPLICATION FOR AD HOC STAFF RECRUITMENT

My:Aminat Tajudeen

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opened its online portal for the recruitment of ad hoc staff for the 2027 general elections.

Ad hoc staff are temporary personnel recruited, trained and deployed to perform specific election-related duties before being disengaged after the exercise.

INEC said it plans to recruit and deploy about 1.4 million ad hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide for the 2027 elections.

The personnel will perform various roles during the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, as well as the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027.

In a public notice issued on Thursday, the commission announced that its Election Staff Recruitment Portal, INECPRES, would open at 8 a.m. on Friday, September 18, 2026, and close at midnight on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.

INEC said interested applicants could access the recruitment portal through its official website and the web version of INECPRES.

The recruitment covers several categories, including Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), Presiding Officers (POs), Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs), Registration Area Centre (RAC) Managers and Registration Area Technical Support (RATECH) personnel.

Who Can Apply?

INEC said eligibility depends on the position being applied for, as well as the applicant’s institution, employment status and educational qualifications.

Eligible applicants may include:

• Serving NYSC members;
• Former NYSC members who meet the stipulated conditions;
• Students of Federal and State tertiary institutions;
• Eligible Federal and State government employees;
• Permanent staff of Ministries, Departments and Agencies;
• Qualified INEC personnel;
• Eligible ICT professionals; and
• Personnel affiliated with institutions designated to host Registration Area Centres.

Applicants are advised to review the specific eligibility requirements for their preferred position before submitting their applications.

Requirements for SPOs

The SPO category is open to eligible personnel from the Federal Public/Civil Service and Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

According to INEC, public-sector employees on Grade Levels 10 to 14 may qualify, subject to the applicable conditions.

Serving NYSC members are also eligible, while former corps members may qualify if their service falls within the period specified by the commission.

INEC listed 2024, 2025 and 2026 as examples of qualifying years for former corps members whose service was completed within the stipulated three-year period before the election.

Requirements for POs and APOs

The Presiding Officer and Assistant Presiding Officer categories include eligible students of Federal and State tertiary institutions, as well as certain government employees.

The requirements for students vary depending on their level and year of study.

Permanent staff of Federal and State MDAs with OND or NCE qualifications may also qualify under specified conditions.

INEC provided different salary-grade requirements, including GL 07–10 and GL 07–14, depending on the relevant category.

Applicants are encouraged to confirm that they meet the requirements before selecting a position.

Requirements for RAC Managers

The RAC Manager category applies to schools and other institutions designated to serve as Registration Area Centres or Super RACs.

The head of a school or a staff member of an institution hosting a RAC may qualify, subject to the stipulated requirements, including the applicable Grade Level 07 and above condition.

Requirements for RATECHs

RATECH, which stands for Registration Area Technical Support, is designed for applicants with relevant ICT and technical expertise.

Eligible INEC ICT staff at the state and headquarters levels who are not engaged in other duties may apply. IT students of Federal and State tertiary institutions are also included.

Former corps members within the commission may also be considered where applicable.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply by following these steps:

1. Visit the INECPRES portal through the official INEC website.
2. Read the available instructions and eligibility requirements.
3. Select the position for which you qualify.
4. Complete the registration form with the required details.
5. Provide accurate personal, educational and employment information.
6. Supply any other required information.
7. Review the details entered to ensure they are accurate.
8. Submit the application.
9. Keep your registration or application details for future reference.

Application Deadline

The INECPRES recruitment portal opened at 8 a.m. on Friday, September 18, 2026.

Applications will close at midnight on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.

Applicants are advised to complete their applications well before the deadline rather than wait until the final day.

INECPRES Helpdesk

INEC said its IT Service Management operates a 24-hour helpdesk to handle enquiries relating to the recruitment platform.

Applicants can contact the helpdesk through the 0700-CALL-INEC vanity number or email inecpress@inec.gov.ng for assistance.