The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has organised a two-day refresher training workshop on using its Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP) for party officials on Wednesday.

Held at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, the training brought together key representatives from registered political parties, some of whom had previously been trained ahead of the 2023 General Election.

The workshop aims to consolidate achievements from previous cycles and ensure a more efficient, transparent, and technologically seamless nomination process in preparation for upcoming bye-elections and the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.

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.

Samuel Omale, Assistant Director in the Legal Drafting and Clearance Department, 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. “The objective,” he explained, “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.”

He further elaborated that the training sought to enhance parties’ familiarity with the Commission’s internal procedures, particularly through live demonstrations on how to make timely and correct submissions via the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP). In addition to addressing common areas of confusion and past mistakes, the sessions also provided space for open dialogue between the Commission and party representatives an opportunity to ask questions, seek clarifications, and find common ground.

Omale expressed optimism about the expected outcomes of the exercise, citing better understanding of the portal, improved accuracy in submissions, and the establishment of a more collaborative framework between INEC and political parties as key deliverables. “Ultimately,” he said, “this is about ensuring that we reduce errors and build confidence in the nomination process going forward.”

Participants were divided into two groups for more interactive and practical sessions. INEC’s Legal and ICT Departments co-hosted the training and will be available for follow-up guidance and support.

Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu urged party officials to maximize the training, noting that “our collective preparedness is a determinant of the overall success of the electoral process.”

The initiative reaffirms INEC’s commitment to using technology to strengthen electoral integrity, improve compliance, and build capacity among political actors to ensure credible and inclusive elections.