• INEC announced plans to deploy more than 1.4 million ad hoc personnel for the 2027 elections, of which most of the workforce will be drawn from NYSC corps members
• INEC praised corps members for their neutrality, discipline and BVAS operational skills
• The commission promised improved welfare, insurance and security for corps members on election duty

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deploy more than 1.4 million ad hoc personnel for the 2027 general elections, with the majority expected to come from members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The disclosure was made by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, during a strategic courtesy visit by senior officials of the commission to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja.

The planned deployment marks a notable increase from the 1.2 million ad hoc workers engaged during the 2023 general elections.

The INEC delegation, made up of National Commissioners, directors, senior aides and the Secretary to the Commission, was received by the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, and other senior officials at the Yakubu Gowon House in Abuja.

Speaking during the visit, Amupitan stressed the critical role corps members continue to play in Nigeria’s electoral system, noting that the commission would rely heavily on NYSC members again in 2027.

According to him, corps members have consistently demonstrated professionalism, neutrality and competence during election duties, especially 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,” Amupitan stated.

He also praised corps members for their patriotism and discipline while acknowledging the risks associated with election assignments across the country.

The INEC chairman assured the NYSC leadership that the commission was working toward improving welfare packages, security measures and insurance coverage for corps members deployed during elections.

INEC noted that since 1999, corps members have remained central to the commission’s election operations, largely serving as presiding officers and registration area officers across polling units nationwide.

The commission revealed that during the 2023 general elections, about 1.2 million ad hoc personnel were deployed, with over 70 percent, nearly 850,000 workers, made up of corps members and student volunteers.

Providing additional details on preparations for the 2027 elections, Amupitan disclosed that INEC would require 707,384 corps members for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.

Another 707,384 personnel will be needed for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections set for February 6, 2027.

The commission also said more personnel would be deployed for off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as bye-elections expected in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi and Kano states.

INEC recently adjusted the timetable for the 2027 elections, fixing the Presidential and National Assembly polls for Saturday, January 16, 2027.

According to the commission, the revised schedule followed the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the introduction of the Electoral Act 2026, which established fresh timelines for pre-election activities.

Under the new timetable, governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will now hold on February 6, 2027, instead of the earlier March 6 date.

Earlier this year, INEC informed the National Assembly that it would require N873.78 billion to conduct the 2027 general elections, in addition to N171 billion earmarked for its operations in 2026.

The proposed budget represents a significant increase compared to the N313.4 billion approved for the conduct of the 2023 general elections.

INEC reopens voter registration nationwide on May 11, sets July 10 deadline

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission had announced that the third and final phase of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration will resume on Monday, May 11, 2026, giving eligible Nigerians another opportunity to register ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC said the exercise will run until Friday, July 10, 2026. The commission described the phase as the final window in the current nationwide registration cycle.