The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced plans to mobilise more than 1.4 million ad hoc staff, largely drawn from the National Youth Service Corps, for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during a strategic courtesy visit to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja alongside National Commissioners, directors, and senior officials of the commission.
The delegation was received by Olakunle Nafiu and members of the NYSC management team at the Yakubu Gowon House.
According to INEC, the visit was aimed at appreciating the NYSC’s longstanding contribution to Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly the role corps members have played as presiding officers and registration area officers since 1999.
Prof. Amupitan revealed that INEC would require 707,384 corps members and ad hoc personnel for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and another 707,384 for the Governorship and State Assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027.
He added that additional personnel would also be deployed for off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as bye-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi, and Kano states.
The INEC chairman noted that during the 2023 general elections, the commission deployed about 1.2 million ad hoc staff, with over 70 per cent — approximately 850,000 personnel — made up of corps members and student volunteers.
Amupitan praised corps members for their discipline, neutrality, patriotism, and digital competence, especially in operating the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System across polling units nationwide.
He also assured the NYSC leadership that INEC is working to improve welfare packages, insurance coverage, and security arrangements for corps members participating in election duties.
Responding, Brigadier General Nafiu described corps members as reliable and easily trainable manpower essential to the success of Nigeria’s elections.
He further stated that the transition from millennials to a new generation of digitally savvy Gen Z corps members would significantly strengthen the use of technology in future electoral operations.
The NYSC DG also called for better welfare and compensation for corps members involved in election assignments, stressing that improved support would encourage dedication and efficiency during national service.
