INEC plans to deploy 1.4 million corps members for the 2027 general elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will deploy more than 1.4 million ad hoc personnel, largely members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), to conduct Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by an INEC delegation to the headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps in Abuja.

According to Amupitan, the commission will require 707,384 corps members and other temporary staff for the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027. Another 707,384 personnel will be deployed for the governorship and state House of Assembly elections slated for February 6, 2027.

The INEC chairman said the visit was aimed at appreciating the NYSC for its longstanding partnership with the electoral body, noting that corps members have played a critical role in Nigeria’s election process since 1999.

“Corps members have consistently served as presiding officers and registration area officers across polling units nationwide,” he said.

Amupitan recalled that during the 2023 general elections, INEC deployed about 1.2 million ad hoc staff, with more than 850,000 of them made up of corps members and student volunteers.

He added that additional personnel would also be needed for off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti State and Osun State, as well as by-elections in Nasarawa State, Enugu State, Rivers State, Ondo State, Kebbi State and Kano State.

Amupitan praised corps members for their discipline, neutrality and digital skills, particularly in operating the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.

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“In many states, corps members accounted for nearly 90 per cent of Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers. They protected the sanctity of the ballot across 176,846 polling units nationwide,” he said.

Acknowledging the risks associated with election duties, the INEC chairman assured the NYSC leadership that the commission would strengthen insurance coverage, welfare packages and security arrangements for corps members participating in future elections.

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