Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has activated its online portal for the recruitment of ad hoc staff for the 2027 general elections, opening a two-month application window that will close at midnight on November 18, 2026. The commission disclosed the activation of the INEC Portal for Recruitment of Election Staff, known as INECPRES, in a public notice posted on its official X handle on Friday, October 2, 2026. According to the notice, the portal was activated at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 18, 2026, and will remain open until midnight on Wednesday, November 18, 2026. The recruitment exercise is part of INEC's preparations for the 2027 general elections, which will require the deployment of approximately 1.4 million temporary personnel to more than 176,000 polling units across the country.
The commission said the online application would be available through its website for applicants using both mobile and web applications. "The Online application will be available on the INEC website via the link inecnigeria.org (for both mobile App and the Web Application)," the notice stated. Applicants using laptop or desktop computers can access the web version of the platform through the portal URL pres.inecnigeria.org. For applicants using Android devices, the mobile application can be downloaded through links provided by the commission at inecnigeria.org/pres.apk or inecpres-app.com/pres-app.apk. INEC urged interested applicants to use only the designated INECPRES channels to complete their applications within the specified period.
The recruitment covers several categories of election personnel, including Supervisory Presiding Officers, Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers, Registration Area Centre Managers, and Registration Area Technical Support personnel. Eligibility requirements vary according to the position, an applicant's institution, employment status, and educational background. For Supervisory Presiding Officers, the commission said eligible personnel in the Federal Public Service and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies could apply. Public-sector employees on Grade Level 10 to 14 are among those listed under the category, subject to applicable requirements. Serving members of the National Youth Service Corps are also eligible under specified conditions, while former corps members may qualify if their service falls within the period prescribed by INEC. The commission listed 2024, 2025, and 2026 as qualifying service years for certain former corps members.
For Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers, eligible students of Federal and State tertiary institutions are among those who can apply, with requirements varying according to their year of study. Permanent staff of Federal and State Ministries, Departments and Agencies holding Ordinary National Diploma or National Certificate in Education qualifications are also included under specified conditions. The notice provides different salary-grade requirements, including Grade Level 07 to 10 and Grade Level 07 to 14, depending on the applicable category. Applicants are generally required to be residents of the state they select during the application process, except those seeking technical positions. As part of the eligibility conditions, applicants must not be members of a political party or have demonstrated support for any candidate or political party.
The recruitment exercise is a critical component of INEC's preparations for the 2027 elections. Ad hoc staff are temporary personnel recruited, trained, and deployed for specific electoral assignments and disengaged after the elections. They perform essential functions at polling units, including accreditation and voting, result collation, and the management of Registration Area Centres. The 2027 general elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly polls, and February 6, 2027, for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections. The deployment of 1.4 million personnel to more than 176,000 polling units nationwide represents one of the largest logistical undertakings in Nigeria's electoral history.
INEC's decision to open the portal follows previous warnings from the commission about fraudulent recruitment websites. In March 2026, INEC disowned a jobs website that claimed to be recruiting ad hoc staff for the 2027 elections, urging Nigerians to use only its official channels. In June 2026, Africa Check reported that claims of INEC opening ad hoc staff recruitment were false at the time. The commission has consistently advised prospective applicants to be cautious of fraudulent websites or individuals requesting payment in exchange for recruitment, stressing that the application process is free and accessible only through official INECPRES platforms.
The 2027 elections will be conducted amid heightened political activity and scrutiny of INEC's preparations. The commission has been deploying new technologies, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing portal, which were first used in previous elections and have been refined over time. INEC has also established an Artificial Intelligence Division within its ICT Department and commenced the deployment of AI auditing tools in its Results Management process, operating under an AI Governance Framework with human oversight. The commission has warned media organisations and the public about the growing threat of AI-generated disinformation, including deepfakes and voice cloning, ahead of the 2027 polls.
For Nigerians seeking to serve as ad hoc staff, the application window offers a two-month opportunity to submit their applications through the designated INECPRES channels. The commission's message is clear: interested applicants should verify that they meet the specific eligibility conditions for their preferred position, complete their applications before the November 18 deadline, and avoid any website or individual that demands payment for recruitment. With the 2027 elections less than four months away, the recruitment of 1.4 million ad hoc staff is a critical step in ensuring that the electoral process is adequately staffed and that polling units across the country are prepared for the presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and State Houses of Assembly elections. The coming weeks will reveal how many Nigerians apply and whether the recruitment process proceeds smoothly or faces the logistical and security challenges that have affected previous exercises.
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