The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opened its online portal for the recruitment of ad hoc personnel for the 2027 general elections, with about 1.4 million workers expected to be deployed across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.
The recruitment exercise commenced at 8am on Friday, September 18, 2026, and will close at midnight on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, according to a public notice issued by the commission.
The temporary personnel will be recruited, trained and deployed for various electoral duties during the 2027 general elections.
The Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
INEC said applicants could access the recruitment through its official website and the INECPRES web portal.
The categories of personnel required include 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 sought, the applicant’s educational background, employment status and institution.
Those listed among potential applicants include serving NYSC members, eligible former corps members, students of Federal and State tertiary institutions, qualified Federal and State government employees, permanent staff of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, eligible INEC personnel, ICT personnel and staff of institutions designated to host Registration Area Centres.
Applicants are required to carefully check the eligibility conditions for their preferred position before applying.
SPO requirements
For Supervisory Presiding Officers, eligible personnel from the Federal Public/Civil Service and MDAs may apply.
The commission listed public-sector employees on Grade Level 10 to 14 among those who may qualify, subject to the applicable conditions.
Serving NYSC members are also included, while former corps members may qualify where their service falls within the period specified by INEC.
The notice cites 2024, 2025 and 2026 as examples of qualifying years for former corps members whose service was completed within the specified three-year period before the election.
PO and APO requirements
Students of Federal and State tertiary institutions are among those eligible to apply for Presiding Officer and Assistant Presiding Officer positions, with specific requirements depending on their year of study.
Permanent staff of Federal and State MDAs holding OND or NCE qualifications are also included under specified conditions.
INEC said applicable salary-grade requirements include GL 07-10 and GL 07-14, depending on the category.
Applicants are therefore advised to confirm the requirements before choosing a position.
RAC Managers
The Registration Area Centre Manager category covers schools and other institutions designated to host RACs or Super RACs.
According to INEC, the head of a school or a staff member of an institution hosting an RAC may qualify, subject to the stipulated requirements, including the applicable Grade Level 07 and above condition.
RATECH positions
Registration Area Technical Support personnel are expected to provide technical and ICT support during the electoral process.
INEC listed eligible ICT staff at its state and headquarters offices who are not engaged in other duties, as well as IT students of Federal and State tertiary institutions.
Former corps members may also be considered where they meet the applicable conditions.
How to apply
Applicants are required to:
Visit the INECPRES web portal or access the portal through the official INEC website.
Read the instructions and eligibility requirements.
Select a position for which they qualify.
Complete the registration details.
Provide accurate personal, educational and employment information.
Supply the required supporting information.
Review the information before submission.
Submit the application and keep the registration details for future reference.
Deadline
The INECPRES portal opened at 8am on Friday, September 18, 2026, and will close at midnight on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
INEC advised prospective applicants not to wait until the final day before completing their applications.
The commission said its IT Service Management operates a 24-hour helpdesk for enquiries relating to the recruitment platform.
Applicants can contact the helpdesk through 0700-CALL-INEC or email inecpress@inec.gov.ng.
