How to apply for INEC ad hoc staff recruitment ahead of 2027 elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the recruitment of ad hoc personnel who will participate in the conduct of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The recruitment exercise, which began on Friday, September 18, 2026, is being conducted through the commission’s Election Staff Recruitment Portal, known as INECPRES.

INEC said the exercise is part of preparations for the deployment of election officials to more than 176,000 polling units across the country.

The commission is expected to engage approximately 1.4 million ad hoc workers for the elections.

Two election dates scheduled

The personnel to be recruited will be deployed for different stages of 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 will take place on February 6, 2027.

Ad hoc personnel are temporary election workers who are recruited and trained to perform designated responsibilities during an election before their engagement ends after the exercise.

Recruitment portal to remain open for two months

INEC announced that applications would commence at 8am on September 18, 2026, and continue until midnight on November 18, 2026.

The commission made the announcement in a public notice issued on Thursday.

Applicants can access the recruitment platform through INEC’s official website or use the web version of the INECPRES portal.

The commission advised prospective applicants to study the conditions attached to each position before choosing a category.

Different categories of election workers

INEC is recruiting personnel for several roles, depending on their qualifications, employment status and institutional affiliation.

The positions include Supervisory Presiding Officers, Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers, Registration Area Centre Managers and Registration Area Technical Support personnel.

The commission has different eligibility criteria for each category.

NYSC members, students and government workers among potential applicants

Serving NYSC members are among those listed as potential candidates for some of the available positions.

Former corps members may also be considered if they fall within the period specified by INEC.

The commission’s notice identifies 2024, 2025 and 2026 among the relevant service years for former corps members under the applicable criteria.

Students attending Federal and State tertiary institutions can also apply for certain positions.

Some Federal and State government employees, permanent staff of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, eligible INEC workers and qualified ICT personnel are also covered by the recruitment guidelines.

However, meeting one of these broad categories does not automatically qualify an applicant for every position. Candidates are required to check the conditions attached to the specific role they intend to select.

Who qualifies for the different positions?

For the Supervisory Presiding Officer position, INEC lists eligible personnel in the Federal Public/Civil Service and MDAs. Public-sector workers within Grade Level 10 to 14 are among those covered by the stated requirements.

For Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers, eligible students of Federal and State tertiary institutions are included. Their eligibility may depend on their level of study.

Permanent employees of Federal and State MDAs with OND or NCE qualifications may also qualify under the conditions set by the commission. Different grade-level requirements, including GL 07-10 and GL 07-14, apply to specified categories.

The Registration Area Centre Manager position is associated with institutions selected to host Registration Area Centres or Super RACs. A school head or staff member of such an institution may qualify, subject to INEC’s requirements, including the applicable Grade Level 07 and above condition.

For applicants interested in RATECH, or Registration Area Technical Support, the recruitment is focused on people with relevant ICT and technical backgrounds.

Eligible INEC ICT personnel at the state and headquarters levels who are not assigned to other duties, as well as IT students of Federal and State tertiary institutions, are among those listed. Former corps members may also qualify where the stipulated conditions are met.

Steps prospective applicants must follow

Applicants are expected to complete the registration electronically.

They should first access INECPRES through the official INEC website or the web portal, then examine the available positions and their respective eligibility requirements.

After choosing a suitable category, applicants will be required to provide their personal, educational and employment details and submit other information requested by the commission.

INEC advises applicants to carefully review their entries before submitting their forms and to retain their registration details for future reference.

Help available for applicants

The commission said applicants experiencing difficulties with the recruitment platform can contact its IT Service Management helpdesk.

The helpdesk operates around the clock, according to the notice.

Enquiries can be made through the 0700-CALL-INEC vanity number or by sending an email to [email protected].

With the recruitment window closing on November 18, 2026, prospective applicants are expected to complete their registration before the deadline rather than wait until the final day.