INEC to deploy 1.4m NYSC members for 2027 elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deploy over 1.4 million National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members for the 2027 general elections. The commission’s chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, revealed this during a strategic courtesy visit by a high-powered INEC delegation to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

The team, which included National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, directors, and senior aides, was received by NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu and members of the scheme’s senior management at the Yakubu Gowon House.

Describing the engagement as “a mission of profound gratitude,” Amupitan emphasised the indispensable role played by corps members in Nigeria’s electoral process since the return to democracy in 1999.

“Corps members have consistently formed the backbone of INEC’s election operations, particularly as presiding officers and registration area officers across polling units nationwide,” Amupitan said.

According to the INEC chairman, the commission deployed approximately 1.2 million ad hoc staff during the 2023 general elections, with over 70 per cent — nearly 850,000 personnel — comprising corps members and student volunteers.

He noted that in several states, corps members made up nearly 90 per cent of Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers, helping to safeguard the electoral process at 176,846 polling units.

For the 2027 polls, the INEC chair outlined specific manpower requirements including 707,384 NYSC members for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and another 707,384 for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections set for February 6, 2027.

He also stated that additional personnel would be needed for off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as various bye-elections across states of the country.

The INEC boss further commended the corps members for their patriotism, discipline, neutrality, and proficiency with election technology, especially the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

He also acknowledged the risks associated with election duty and assured the NYSC leadership of the commission’s committment to strengthen insurance coverage, welfare packages, and security arrangements for corps members deployed for elections.