INEC to Mobilise 1.4 Million Corps Members for 2027 General Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deploy over 1.4 million members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as ad hoc staff for the 2027 general elections, reinforcing the corps’ long-standing role in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure on Monday during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps in Abuja, where he met with the Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle O. Nafiu, and senior management staff.

Amupitan described the visit as a gesture of appreciation, stressing that the NYSC remains a critical pillar in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

He said corps members have consistently formed the backbone of INEC’s field operations since 1999, serving as Presiding Officers and Registration Area Officers across polling units nationwide.

According to him, without the NYSC, it would be difficult for INEC to successfully conduct elections in the country, given the scale and manpower requirements involved.

Over 1.4 million ad hoc personnel planned

The INEC chairman revealed that a total of 1,414,768 ad hoc staff will be required for the 2027 polls, with NYSC members expected to make up the bulk of the workforce.

He broke down the figures as follows:

707,384 corps members for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027

707,384 for the Governorship and State Assembly elections slated for February 6, 2027

52,446 corps members for off-cycle governorship and bye-elections in states including Ekiti, Osun, Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi, and Kano

Amupitan noted that in the 2023 general elections, INEC deployed about 1.2 million ad hoc staff, with more than 70 per cent drawn from NYSC members and student volunteers.

Corps members key to electoral technology

He also highlighted the importance of corps members in the deployment of election technology, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), describing them as essential to the credibility of modern elections.

According to him, their digital skills have strengthened election administration in previous off-cycle polls, including those in Anambra State and the FCT Area Councils, where they helped ensure smooth voter accreditation processes.

Amupitan further said corps members play a vital role in safeguarding the electoral process across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.

Welfare and security assurances

The INEC chairman acknowledged the risks associated with election duty and assured that measures are being strengthened to improve security, insurance, and welfare support for corps members deployed during elections.

He said the commission is working closely with security agencies and the NYSC to ensure better protection for all ad hoc staff.

NYSC pledges continued partnership

In his response, the NYSC Director-General reaffirmed the corps’ readiness to continue partnering with INEC, describing corps members as reliable, disciplined, and easily trainable personnel.

He added that the increasing number of digitally skilled Gen Z corps members would further enhance the efficiency of election management in future polls.

The NYSC leadership assured INEC of full support ahead of the 2027 general elections and upcoming off-cycle governorship polls across the country.