INEC Opens recruitment portal for Ekiti Poll Ad-Hoc Staff – Here is How to apply

The independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken its first major logistical step toward the Ekiti State governorship election, opening applications for ad-hoc staff positions for the poll scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026.

The INECPRES portal opened on Saturday, April 25, 2026, and will close at midnight on May 18, 2026. Applications must be submitted through the portal or the official Android mobile app. The portal is accessible at pres.inecnigeria.org.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Available roles include Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), Presiding Officers (POs), Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs), Registration Area Technical Support Staff (RATECHs), and RAC Managers.

WHO CAN APPLY

For SPO roles, applicants must be public or civil servants on Grade Level 10–14, or INEC Registration Area Officers not engaged in other duties on the same grade levels.

Candidates applying for PO and APO positions must be serving corps members, penultimate students of federal or state tertiary institutions with IT knowledge, permanent MDA staff with OND qualifications or on GL 07–10, or former corps members who completed service no earlier than 2023.

For RATECH positions, applicants must have an IT background and must be qualified INEC ICT staff not engaged in any other duties.

STRICT POLITICAL NEUTRALITY REQUIRED

INEC was unambiguous on the political neutrality requirement. “Applicants must not be political party members. Applicants must not have demonstrated or expressed support for any candidate or party,” the commission stated. Applicants must also reside in the state of their chosen deployment, except for RATECHs.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

Before starting an application, INEC says candidates must have ready: a functional email address and mobile phone number, a personal bank account number, a recent passport photograph with a white background not larger than 5MB, a valid Staff ID or Student ID, an NYSC call-up number where applicable, scanned copies of their highest qualification in PDF, and a valid means of identification in JPG or JPEG format.

FRAUD WARNING

INEC warned applicants to beware of fake recruitment websites and to always use the verified official INEC website for electoral updates. Help desk contacts are available at 09074878198 and 07083613700, with email enquiries directed to ic**@******ov.ng.

THE POLITICAL CONTEXT

The recruitment drive is part of preparations for the Ekiti off-cycle governorship election, where incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC is seeking re-election. Off-cycle elections in Nigeria are typically watched closely as a barometer of INEC’s operational capacity and with the opposition’s Ibadan Declaration fresh in the air and 2027 looming, the commission will be under heightened scrutiny to deliver a credible process.

Some INEC portal notices reference May 16 as a closing date, making it advisable for applicants to apply early rather than wait until the stated May 18 deadline.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​