INEC Holds 2-Day Workshop For Political Parties On Candidate Nomination Portal
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has organised a two-day refresher training workshop on using its Candidate Nomination Portal, ICNP, for political party officials.
The training, which was held on Wednesday at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, brought together key representatives from registered political parties, some of whom had previously been trained ahead of the 2023 General Election.
According to the Commission, the training was aimed at enhancing the capacity of political parties and minimizing procedural errors in candidate nominations.
In her welcome address, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, National Commissioner and Chairperson of the Legal Services, Clearance and Complaints Committee, LSC&CC, emphasized the importance of accurate and timely nominations in the electoral process.
“Nomination of candidates is not only a statutory obligation as provided in Section 29 of the Electoral Act, 2022, but it is the very foundation upon which elections are conducted,” she stated. “An error in the submission of personal particulars of candidates by political parties can be potentially detrimental to both the party and its candidate.”
She acknowledged that despite progress with the ICNP in reducing paperwork and improving compliance, political parties still face challenges such as incomplete form submissions, improper document attachments, and frequent turnover of personnel managing the nomination process.
“This refresher training is designed to bridge those gaps and ensure that both returning and newly appointed party officials have the knowledge and skills necessary for a smooth nomination process,” she added.
Assistant Director in the Legal Drafting and Clearance Department, Samuel Omale, outlined the purpose and strategic focus of the refresher training. According to him, the workshop was designed not just as a routine exercise, but as a timely intervention to deepen the capacity of political party officials ahead of upcoming FCT and bye-elections.
He explained that the objective is to refresh political parties on the approved Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates as outlined in the Electoral Act, 2022, while equipping them with practical knowledge of the nomination process.”
