The Independent National Electoral Commission has opened its 2026 recruitment exercise, inviting qualified Nigerians to apply for entry-level positions across various departments as the commission moves to strengthen its workforce and electoral operations.

INEC announced that the recruitment portal opened on Monday, July 20, and will remain active until Monday, July 27. The exercise covers vacancies across Grade Levels 07, 08, 09, 10 and 12.

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The commission said the recruitment is aimed at improving its capacity in areas including electoral administration, voter registration, data management and election logistics.

Applicants are required to submit their applications online through the official recruitment portal by creating an account, completing the application form and uploading the necessary documents.

INEC stressed that the process is completely free and warned applicants against providing false information or submitting forged documents, noting that such actions could lead to disqualification and possible prosecution.

Available positions are divided into three main categories.

The Professional Cadre covers Grade Levels 09, 10 and 12, with vacancies including Accountant, Clinical Officer, Lawyer, ICT Officer, Engineer and Quantity Surveyor.

Candidates applying for professional roles must possess a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification, and in some cases a master’s degree in a relevant discipline from a recognised institution.

They are also expected to have applicable professional certifications, including NBA, COREN, NSE, NIQS, ICAN, ANAN or CPN, where required.

Applicants for these positions must also have at least two years of post-qualification experience, an NYSC discharge or exemption certificate and demonstrate strong analytical, communication, problem-solving and ICT skills.

For the Administrative Officer II position, also known as Registration Area Officer on Grade Level 08, candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree, Higher National Diploma or equivalent qualification in the Social Sciences, Humanities or Sciences.

Applicants must also have an NYSC discharge, exemption or exclusion certificate, alongside knowledge of data management, record keeping and basic ICT tools such as Microsoft Office.

The Executive Officer position, classified as Registration Officer on Grade Level 07, requires applicants to possess a National Certificate in Education or equivalent qualification.

Candidates must also demonstrate computer knowledge, communication ability and organisational skills.

INEC listed several general requirements for all applicants, including:

Candidates must provide a valid certificate of state of origin signed by their local government chairman or secretary.

Applicants must be certified physically and mentally fit by a government medical officer, be no older than 35 years at the time of application, have no criminal conviction and be willing to serve anywhere in Nigeria.

The commission also highlighted integrity, discipline and commitment to public service as key qualities expected from successful applicants.

To apply, candidates must visit the official INEC recruitment portal, create an account using their personal details, email address and National Identification Number, verify their email and select their preferred vacancy.

Applicants will then need to upload required documents, including a passport photograph, birth certificate or declaration of age, O’Level result, relevant academic certificates, local government identification certificate and NYSC certificate where applicable.

INEC advised applicants to carefully review their submissions before completing the process, adding that selected vacancies cannot be changed once an application has been submitted.