INEC warns political parties against errors in candidate’s details

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned political parties against submitting incorrect or incomplete personal details of their candidates, warning that such errors could severely impact both the candidates and their parties.

Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC National Commissioner and Chairperson of the Legal Services, Clearance and Complaints Committee, issued the warning on Wednesday in Abuja during a two-day refresher training for party officials on how to use the Commission’s Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP).

Describing candidate nomination as the foundation of the electoral process, Agbamuche-Mbu stressed that accurate and timely submissions are not only mandatory under Section 29 of the Electoral Act, 2022, but are also critical to the integrity of elections.

“An error in the submission of candidates’ particulars can be potentially detrimental to both the party and the candidate,” she said.

She acknowledged progress made through the ICNP in streamlining the nomination process but noted that political parties still struggle with challenges such as incomplete submissions, incorrect document uploads, and frequent changes in personnel responsible for managing the process.

“This training is intended to close those gaps and ensure that both new and returning party officials are equipped with the skills required for accurate and smooth candidate nominations,” she added.

Also speaking at the workshop, Samuel Omale, Assistant Director in the Legal Drafting and Clearance Department, emphasized that the training was more than a routine exercise — it was a strategic move to prepare political parties for the upcoming FCT and bye-elections.

He said the goal was to reinforce knowledge of the Electoral Act’s nomination guidelines and demonstrate the correct use of the ICNP system, enabling party officials to make timely and error-free submissions.

Omale expressed confidence that the training would foster better understanding, improve the accuracy of nominations, and strengthen collaboration between INEC and political parties.

“Ultimately, we aim to minimize errors and build trust in the nomination process,” he concluded.