The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sounded a critical alarm to Nigerians seeking employment as ad-hoc staff for the upcoming 2026 elections. The commission has identified a fraudulent website actively deceiving applicants and stealing personal data.
Fake Portal Exposed: Public Urged to Steer Clear
In an official public notice released on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, INEC warned the public about a counterfeit online portal. The site falsely presents itself as the 'INEC Ad-hoc Staff Recruitment Portal 2026'.
The electoral body specifically named okripeti.org/Inec-ADhoc-Staff-Recruitment.html as a completely fake platform with no connection to INEC. All information, application forms, and statistics on this site are false, misleading, and designed to deceive unsuspecting job seekers.
Official Channels for 2026 FCT Area Council Elections
INEC reiterated that the authentic recruitment process for ad-hoc staff positions ahead of the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections is conducted exclusively through its dedicated INECPRES platform.
The commission confirmed that the only legitimate application channels are:
- Web and iOS: https://pres.inecnigeria.org
- Android mobile app: https://presmobile.inecnigeria.org
"Any other website or link outside the above is not authorised by INEC," the commission's statement firmly declared.
Available Positions and Critical Application Details
INEC had earlier announced vacancies for several ad-hoc roles crucial for the smooth conduct of the FCT polls. The open positions include Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), Presiding Officers (POs), Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs), Registration Area Centre (RAC) Managers, and Registration Area Technical Support Staff (RATECHSS).
The online application portal officially opened on Monday, December 29, 2025, at 8:00 am. It is scheduled to close on Saturday, January 19, 2026, at 12:00 midnight. INEC emphasised that only Nigerian residents of the Federal Capital Territory are eligible to apply for these temporary election roles.
Protect Your Data: INEC's Safety Advisory
In its warning, INEC strongly advised all applicants to guard their sensitive personal information. The commission explicitly cautioned against submitting details such as Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), passwords, One-Time Pins (OTPs), or bank account information on any unofficial platform.
Applicants were also urged to always verify that any recruitment website's URL ends with the authentic inecnigeria.org domain. The commission advised anyone who may have mistakenly registered on the fake portal to discontinue immediately and reapply only through the official links provided.
This warning underscores INEC's commitment to transparency, credibility, and protecting citizens from fraudulent schemes as preparations intensify for the 2026 Area Council Elections in the nation's capital.
