The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the recruitment of about 1.4 million ad hoc personnel who will participate in the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
The temporary election workers are expected to be deployed to more than 176,000 polling units nationwide for the two phases of the elections.
The Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to take place on January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will be held on February 6, 2027.
In a public notice issued by the commission on Thursday, INEC announced that its online recruitment platform, the INEC Portal for Recruitment of Election Staff (INECPRES), opened at 8am on Friday, September 18, 2026.
The commission said the recruitment exercise would remain open until midnight on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
Ad hoc personnel are temporary election officials recruited and trained by INEC to perform specific duties during elections. Their engagement ends after the completion of the electoral exercise.
Who can apply?
INEC said eligibility for recruitment would depend on the position being sought, as well as the applicant’s educational qualification, institution, employment status and other requirements stipulated for each category.
Those eligible to apply include serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, former NYSC members who meet the specified conditions, students of Federal and State tertiary institutions, eligible Federal and State government employees, permanent staff of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), qualified INEC personnel, eligible ICT personnel and staff of institutions designated to host Registration Area Centres (RACs).
The commission advised prospective applicants to carefully review the eligibility criteria for their preferred position before submitting their applications.
Positions available
The recruitment exercise covers several categories of election officials, including Supervisory Presiding Officers, Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers, Registration Area Centre Managers and Registration Area Technical Support personnel.
For the position of Supervisory Presiding Officer, INEC said eligible personnel in the Federal Public/Civil Service and other MDAs could apply, subject to the stipulated requirements.
Public-sector employees on Grade Level 10 to 14 are among those listed as eligible for the position, while serving NYSC members may also apply under the conditions prescribed by the commission.
Former corps members are also eligible in certain circumstances, with INEC listing 2024, 2025 and 2026 as qualifying years of service for specified categories of applicants.
For Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers, students of Federal and State tertiary institutions who meet the requirements are eligible to apply.
The commission said the eligibility conditions for students vary depending on their year of study and other applicable requirements.
Permanent staff of Federal and State MDAs with OND or NCE qualifications may also apply under specified conditions. The applicable salary grades listed for the categories include GL 07-10 and GL 07-14.
Registration Area Centre Managers
The Registration Area Centre Manager position is primarily intended for personnel in institutions designated to host Registration Area Centres (RACs) or Super RACs.
INEC said the head of a school or a staff member of an institution hosting a RAC may apply for the position, provided the individual satisfies the stipulated requirements, including the applicable Grade Level 07 and above condition.
Registration Area Technical Support
The Registration Area Technical Support (RATECH) category is designed for applicants with relevant information and communications technology (ICT) and technical experience.
INEC listed eligible ICT personnel at the state and headquarters levels who are not engaged in other duties among those who can apply.
IT students of Federal and State tertiary institutions are also eligible under the specified conditions, while former corps members may apply where they meet the applicable requirements.
Application process
Applicants interested in participating in the 2027 elections as ad hoc personnel are required to access the INECPRES recruitment portal through the official INEC website.
They are expected to read the instructions and eligibility requirements for the available positions and select only a position for which they qualify.
Applicants must then complete the registration form, providing accurate personal, educational and employment information, as well as any other details required by the commission.
Before submitting the application, applicants are advised to carefully review the information supplied to ensure that it is accurate and complete.
After submission, applicants are expected to retain their registration details for future reference.
INEC urged prospective applicants to confirm that they meet the requirements for their preferred category before commencing the application process.
Deadline
The INECPRES recruitment portal opened at 8am on Friday, September 18, 2026, and is scheduled to close at midnight on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
The commission advised applicants to complete their registration before the deadline rather than wait until the final hours of the exercise.
INECPRES helpdesk
INEC said its IT Service Management operates a 24-hour helpdesk to provide assistance to applicants with enquiries concerning the recruitment platform.
Applicants requiring assistance can contact the commission through the 0700-CALL-INEC vanity number or via email at inecpress@inec.gov.ng.
