The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has reaffirmed the vital role of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Nigeria’s electoral process, revealing that the commission will mobilise more than 1.4 million ad hoc personnel for the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan disclosed this during a strategic courtesy visit to the headquarters of the NYSC in Abuja, where he led a delegation of National Commissioners, directors, senior aides, and the Secretary to the Commission.
According to a statement issued by INEC on Monday, the delegation was received by the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, alongside members of the scheme’s management team at the Yakubu Gowon House in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, Amupitan described the visit as more than a routine engagement, calling it “a mission of profound gratitude” to an institution he said has remained indispensable to the conduct of credible elections in Nigeria.
He noted that since 1999, corps members have consistently formed the backbone of INEC’s election operations, particularly serving as presiding officers and registration area officers across polling units nationwide.
Providing details of the commission’s preparations for the next general elections, the INEC chairman disclosed that about 707,384 corps members and ad hoc officials would be required 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 revealed that additional personnel would be needed for off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti State and Osun State, as well as bye-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi and Kano States.
Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, he stated that INEC deployed about 1.2 million ad hoc staff, with over 70 per cent — nearly 850,000 personnel — made up of corps members and student volunteers.
The INEC chairman praised corps members for their patriotism, neutrality, discipline, and digital competence, particularly in the operation of 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.
Amupitan also acknowledged the risks associated with election assignments and assured the NYSC leadership that the commission would continue to strengthen welfare, insurance, and security arrangements for corps members engaged in electoral duties.
In his response, Nafiu commended the enduring partnership between INEC and the NYSC, describing corps members as credible, patriotic, reliable, and easily trainable manpower for national assignments.
He reiterated the scheme’s commitment to supporting INEC in delivering free, fair, and credible elections across the country.
“The last batch of millennials will soon exit the scheme, leaving behind a generation of digitally savvy Gen Z corps members whose ICT proficiency will greatly support modern electoral operations,” Nafiu stated.
The NYSC Director-General also appealed for improved welfare packages, compensation, and insurance coverage for corps members participating in election duties, noting that better support would encourage them to continue serving the nation diligently.
He assured INEC of the scheme’s readiness to fully mobilise corps members and administrative personnel for the forthcoming elections as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
