The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deploy over 1.4 million ad hoc staff, primarily drawn from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), for the 2027 general elections.
INEC chairman Joash Amupitan disclosed this during a strategic visit by a commission delegation to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, where he was received by the Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, and senior management team members at the Yakubu Gowon House.
Providing insights into preparations for the 2027 polls, Mr Amupitan revealed that INEC would require 707,384 corps members for the Presidential and National Assembly election scheduled for 16 January 2027, and a further 707,384 for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections fixed for 6 February 2027.
The INEC chairman described the meeting as a mission of profound gratitude to the NYSC, noting that corps members have remained central to election operations in Nigeria since 1999.
“Corps members have consistently served as presiding officers and registration area officers across polling units nationwide,” he said. “The 2023 general election saw INEC deploy about 1.2 million ad hoc staff, with over 70 per cent – nearly 850,000 personnel – made up of corps members and student volunteers.”
He added that additional personnel would be needed for off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as bye-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi, and Kano states.
Mr Amupitan commended corps members for their patriotism, discipline, neutrality, and digital competence, particularly in operating the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
“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.
He acknowledged the risks associated with election duties and assured the NYSC leadership that the commission would strengthen insurance, welfare, and security arrangements for corps members deployed for the elections.
