INEC Initiates Ad-hoc Recruitment Ahead of Ekiti Governorship Poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially commenced the recruitment of ad-hoc staff for the upcoming Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026.

In a public announcement shared via its official 𝕏 platform, the electoral body invited eligible Nigerians to apply for various temporary roles essential for the smooth conduct of the election. The move signals the start of critical preparations for one of the key off-cycle elections in Nigeria.

According to INEC, the online application portal opened on April 25, 2026, and will remain accessible until May 18, 2026. Interested applicants are required to submit their forms through the commission’s designated recruitment platform.

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The commission outlined several available positions, including Supervisory Presiding Officers, Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers, Registration Area Centre (RAC) Managers, and technical personnel known as RATECHs.

INEC also provided detailed eligibility criteria for each role. For Supervisory Presiding Officers, applicants must be public or civil servants within Grade Levels 10 to 14, or INEC staff within the same grade who are not currently assigned to other responsibilities.

Candidates applying for the RAC Manager position must be heads of schools or officials working in institutions or public facilities designated as collation centres. These individuals are required to be on Grade Level 07 or higher.

For Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers, the commission opened applications to a wider pool, including serving members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), penultimate-year students in Nigerian tertiary institutions with basic computer skills, and public sector workers with at least an OND qualification within Grade Levels 07 to 10. Former corps members who served between 2023 and 2026, as well as junior INEC staff, are also eligible.

Applicants interested in the RATECH role must possess a background in information technology and be qualified ICT personnel within INEC who are not engaged in other assignments.

The commission emphasized that all applicants must remain politically neutral, stating clearly that individuals affiliated with any political party or showing support for candidates will be disqualified. Additionally, applicants are required to reside in the state where they intend to work, except for those applying for technical roles.

INEC further clarified that returning applicants should ensure they select the category that accurately reflects their current status during the application process.

The recruitment drive is part of broader preparations for the Ekiti governorship election, where incumbent governor Biodun Oyebanji is expected to seek re-election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Political observers note that the effectiveness of ad-hoc staff recruitment and training plays a crucial role in ensuring credible and transparent elections. As the process unfolds, attention will focus on how well INEC manages logistics and personnel ahead of the crucial poll.