Speaking yesterday in Abuja on activities toward 2007, INEC chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, said that the first batch of the diploma awarding institute would start lectures at the University of Ibadan in June.
Iwu said that courses to be offered by the institute were designed to train professional electoral personnel as well as ad-hoc officers.
According to him, modalities are being worked out to also affiliate the institute to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He said that the school would be the first of its kind in Africa, adding, ``we have started receiving applications from member African countries for enrolment and participation.''
The chairman therefore urged politicians, political parties, journalists, the academia, security agencies and the civil society to patronise the institute in order to enhance the country's democracy.
He said that N600 million had been earmarked for disbursement to all political parties this year to strengthen their activities.
Similarly, the national chairman of the ACD, Chief Alexis Anielo, advised INEC to be more transparent in its operations so as to earn the confidence of politicians.
Anielo also said that his party was opposed to the ``testing of EVMs'' by the electoral body.