The Independent National Electoral Commission has disclosed plans to deploy more than 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel, largely drawn from the National Youth Service Corps, for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, made this known during a strategic courtesy visit by the commission’s delegation to the headquarters of the NYSC in Abuja.
The delegation, which included national commissioners, directors, and senior officials of the electoral body, was received by the NYSC Director-General, Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, alongside members of the scheme’s management team at the Yakubu Gowon House.
Speaking during the visit, Amupitan described the meeting as a mission of appreciation to the NYSC for its consistent support in Nigeria’s electoral process since 1999.
According to him, corps members have remained central to the success of elections across the country, particularly in serving as presiding officers and registration area officers at polling units nationwide.
The INEC chairman revealed that about 1.2 million ad-hoc staff were deployed during the 2023 general elections, with over 70 per cent — nearly 850,000 personnel — made up of corps members and student volunteers.
Providing details on preparations for the 2027 polls, he stated that the commission would require 707,384 corps members and other ad-hoc staff for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
He added that another 707,384 personnel would be deployed for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections slated for February 6, 2027.
Amupitan further noted that additional manpower would be needed for off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as pending bye-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi, and Kano states.
He commended corps members for their neutrality, discipline, patriotism, and technological competence, particularly in operating the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System during elections.
READ ALSO:Â INEC Announces Commencement Of Final Phase Of CVR Exercise
According to him, corps members accounted for nearly 90 per cent of Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers in several states during previous elections, helping to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process across over 176,000 polling units nationwide.
The INEC chairman also assured the NYSC leadership that the commission would continue to improve welfare packages, insurance coverage, and security arrangements for corps members deployed for election duties.
Responding, NYSC Director-General Nafiu praised the long-standing collaboration between both institutions, describing corps members as reliable and highly trainable manpower critical to the conduct of credible elections.
He added that the emergence of digitally savvy Generation Z corps members would further strengthen modern electoral operations due to their ICT proficiency.
Nafiu, however, appealed for improved welfare and compensation packages for corps members involved in election assignments, stressing that adequate support would motivate them to continue serving diligently.
He assured INEC of the NYSC’s full commitment to mobilising corps members and administrative personnel for the successful conduct of the 2027 elections.
