In this post, we explained Nigerian INEC Election Officials (e.g Resident Electoral Commissioners, Presiding Officer (PO), Assistant Presiding Officer (APO), etc and their duties/ functions. The Election Observers, The Security Agents and Their Roles in Election. Also, the history ofthe Nigerian electoral system, the Nigerian Electoral Process andElectoral Wards in Every LGAs and States in Nigeria.

What is Electoral Ward?

An Electoral Ward is a local authority area, typically used for electoral purposes. In some countries like Nigeria, electoral wards are usually named after neighbourhoods, thoroughfares, parishes, landmarks, geographical features and in some cases historical figures connected to the area.

What is Polling Unit?

Polling unit means an electoral Unit created by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the purpose of registration of voters and or voting.

What is INEC in Nigeria?

INEC is Independent National Electoral Commission. It is the electoral body which oversees elections in Nigeria. It was established in 1998 shortly before Nigeria’s transition from military to civilian rule.

The mission of INEC is to serve as an independent and effective Election Management Bodies (EMB) committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

Which Electoral Ward is The Largest in Nigeria?

Rigasa ward in Igabi LGA in kaduna state is said to be one of the largest ward in terms of population in Nigeria. Largest ward may not be of meaning again with the INEC decision to reduce crowded electoral ward. Prior to 2023 general election, INEC took a decision to removing some registered voters from some crowded wards to nearby less-crowd electoral ward.

History of the Nigerian Electoral System

Nigeria’s electoral system has its roots in the colonial period, when the country was administered by British authorities. In the 1950s and 1960s, Nigeria held a series of elections that were often marred by violence and fraud. Following the end of military rule in 1999, Nigeria embarked on a process of democratization that has seen significant improvements to the electoral system.

The Nigerian Constitution, which was adopted in 1999, provides the legal framework for the country’s electoral system. The Constitution establishes the INEC as an independent body charged with organizing, conducting, and supervising all federal and state elections in Nigeria.

Structure & Duties of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

The INEC is headed by a chairman and has 12 national commissioners, each of whom is appointed by the President of Nigeria, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The INEC is responsible for the registration of voters, the conduct of elections, creation of electoral wards and pulling units, and the resolution of election disputes. The commission is also responsible for the delimitation of constituencies and the publication of electoral guidelines.

Nigerian Electoral Process

The Nigerian electoral process involves a number of steps, including voter registration, candidate nomination, campaign activities, voting, and the announcement of results. The process is governed by a number of laws, including the Electoral Act, which was first passed in 2006 and has since been amended several times.

The Electoral Act provides for the establishment of political parties, the conduct of primaries, and the nomination of candidates for elections. The act also sets out rules for campaign financing, voting procedures, and the resolution of election disputes.

The INEC has made significant efforts to improve the integrity and transparency of elections, and there is a growing awareness among voters of the importance of free and fair elections.

As of 2023, the Nigerian electoral system has 119,973 polling units across the country. These polling units are organized into wards, which are further organized into local government areas.

INEC Electoral Officers in Nigeria and their Duties/ Functions

Chairman of the Commission
He is the Chief Electoral Commissioner. He has responsibility for the overall conduct of electoral activities in the country except local government elections handled by State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECs). He is also the Returning Officer in the Presidential election.
National Electoral Commissioners
They are members of the Commission who make policies for the successful conduct of all electoral activities. Each of them heads a Standing Committee and supervise a cluster of INEC’s Offices in the States and FCT. They also monitor elections and ensure that rules and regulations are complied with.
Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs)
Resident Electoral Commissioners are responsible for the conduct and supervision of the elections in a State and the Federal Capital Territory. They take delivery of all sensitive and non-sensitive materials from INEC Headquarters and distribute them to all Electoral Officers. They also supervise the recruitment and training of staff for elections.
Electoral Officers (EOs)
They are responsible for conducting and supervising elections in Local Government areas or Area Councils. Electoral Officers receive election materials from Resident Electoral Commissioners and distribute them to Supervisory Presiding Officers for onward delivery to the Presiding Officers. They ensure the safe custody of materials used for elections. They are assisted by three Assistant Electoral Officers.
Returning Officers
It is their duty to collate (tabulate and sums up) and declare the score of the candidates and declare the winner in an election in a particular constituency.
Collation Officers and
There are collation officers at various levels.
·         Registration Area/Ward CO: Collates results from polling stations within a RA/Ward

·         Local Government Area (LGA) CO: Collates results from the various Registration Areas/Wards for the Area Council, State Assembly and Presidential elections.

·         State Constituency CO: Collates results from all the RAs/LGAs within a state constituency for the state assembly election.

·         Federal Constituency CO: Collates results from the LGA within a Federal Constituency. This person is the federal constituency RO.

·         Senatorial District CO: Collates results from all the LGAs within a Senatorial District

·         State CO: Collates results from all LGAs within a state in the presidential and governorship election and is the RO for that election. This person is the Chairman of INEC.

·         Chief Electoral Commissioner (Chairman, INEC): Collates results from all states within the federation in the Presidential election and is the Returning Officer for the election.
Supervisory Presiding Officer
Supervises the conduct of the poll in a cluster of Polling Unit.

Assists in the training of presiding officers, poll clerks and poll assistants under his/her supervision.
Ensures that all sensitive and non-sensitive materials are available at the assigned polling stations in the right quantities at the right time
Regularly visit the polling station under his/her supervision to attend to problems during the period of the election.
Ensures that the results of the poll for the assigned polling stations are delivered to the CO by the PO.
Ensures that all election materials returned to him/her by the PO are submitted to the EO immediately after the elections.
Liaises with the security agents to ensure that law and order are maintained within the polling station under his/her supervision.
He/she should be accountable to the EO in the discharge of his/her duties.

Other INEC Election Officials Related to The Polling Team are:

Presiding Officer (PO) (Ballot Issuance/Observer)
He/she is in-charge of all activities at the Polling Unit on Election Day including Polling, Sorting and Counting of votes as well as the Announcement of election result (s).

Takes delivery of and inspects all materials and equipment for election from the Supervisory Presiding Officer and ensures their security, particularly the sensitive materials, such as ballot papers and result forms;
Must be at the Polling Unit early (at least one hour before the official commencement of polling) to set up the Polling Unit;
Coordinates activities in the voting points under his supervision;
Conducts voter education ahead of polling.
Issues ballot paper(s) to voters and ensures that voters deposit thumb-printed ballot paper (s) into the appropriate ballot box.
Returns all election materials, other than the Result Sheets and Card Reader, to the SPO for delivery to the EO after elections.
Delivers the completed Result Sheets and Card Reader to the Registration Area Collation Officer (RACO)
Reports any security incident to the Security Agents at the Polling Unit and, where necessary, invites the Police or Security Agents to maintain order, keep the peace or arrest any person committing an offence;
Documents adverse incidents, using incident report form and informs the appropriate authority and persons;

Responds to calls from EOSC for periodic updates of the elections progress and reports threats.

Assistant Presiding Officer (APO) I (Verification and Statistics)

Works under the supervision of the PO/APO (VP).
Assists with the collection of materials from the SPO.
Assists with the return of election materials to the SPO.
Verifies and authenticates the voter using Card Reader;
Fills the gender and disability status for each voter in the Voter Information and Statistics Form EC 40H.

Assistant Presiding Officer (APO) II (Register-Check and Inking)

Assists with the collection of election materials from the SPO.
Confirms that voter’s details in the PVC are contained in the Register of Voters and ticks the appropriate box by the voter’s name before polling.
Applies indelible ink on the appropriate finger of the voter before polling.
Assists in the preparation and sorting of the ballots.
Assists with the return of the election materials to the SPO at the close of poll.

Assistant Presiding Officer (APO) III (Queue Controller)

Ensures orderly queuing of voters.
Arranges separate queues for men and women in areas where the mingling of men and women in the same queue is not allowed.

Assistant Presiding Officer Voting Point, APO (VP)

Supervises the conduct of all activities during polling, sorting and counting within a specified Voting Point (VP).
Acts on behalf of the PO at the Voting point.
Regulates the conduct of voters at the VP.
Decides on all cases reported to him/her by the APO I, APO II and APO III.

Election Observers and Their Roles in Election

Domestic and international observers are appointed by their respective organisations and accredited by the Commission. They have the right to observe the entire voting process and the counting of ballots at the polling stations and collation and declaration of results at the collation centres.

With regards to Election Observers, Election Officials shall:

Check that all observers are duly accredited and wear their observer badges while at the Polling Station.
Allow observers to watch the distribution of election materials conduct of the voting, sorting and counting of the ballots, and announcement of results.
Allow observers to call to their attention any irregularities.

Note: Observers are not allowed to handle election materials or interfere in the conduct of the poll or counting of ballots. Observers are not allowed to wear any badges or symbol of any political party. Observers shall comply with any lawful directive issued by or under the authority of INEC, or its officials including an order to leave the polling station or collation centre.

Accredited journalists have the same rights and responsibilities as accredited observers.

Role of Security Agents and Their Roles in Election

It is important that the conduct of the poll and the collation and declaration of results be done without any disturbance or threat to peace.

Security agents shall:

Provide security at the polling station and collation centres to ensure that the polling and counting of ballots and declaration of results are conducted without any disturbance.
Take necessary measures to prevent violence or any activity that can threaten or disrupt the election
Comply with any lawful directive issued by or under the authority of INEC
Ensure the security and safety of all election materials by escorting and guarding the materials as appropriate.
Protect election officials at the polling station and collation centres.
Arrest on the instruction of the PO or other INEC officials any person(s) causing any disturbance or preventing the smooth conduct of proceedings at the polling stations and collation centres.
At the polling station, inform the PO, or if they believe that any voter is under the age of 18 or has committed an offence of impersonation.
On the instruction of the PO stand at the end of the queue of voter at the polling station, if any, at the official close of accreditation so that any person entering the polling station after this time is not allowed to vote.
Accompany the PO to deliver the results, ballot boxes and other election materials safely to the RA/Ward Collation Centre.
Accompany Collation Officers to deliver collated election results to the ROs.

Note: Security Agents are not allowed to interfere with the conducts of the polls, counting of the ballots, or the collation and declaration of results.