INEC plans to mobilize 1.4 million corps members for the 2027 general election

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that more than 1.4 million members of the National Youth Service Corps will be mobilised for the 2027 general election.

INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan disclosed this information during a courtesy visit to NYSC Director‑General Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu in Abuja yesterday.

In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, Amupitan said that, within the complex architecture of Nigeria’s democracy, no pillar is more vital than the NYSC.

He noted that corps members have taken part in most election cycles since 1999 and added, “I dare say that INEC cannot conduct elections in Nigeria without the NYSC.”

Amupitan stated: “As the Chairman of INEC, I am honoured to have the opportunity to discuss our collaborative efforts toward ensuring a seamless and credible electoral process in Nigeria.

“You provide the heartbeat of our field operations. When we speak of election manpower, we are essentially speaking of your corps members. They are the most dedicated, educated, and patriotic election duty staff we have, and their presence at the polling units brings a level of neutrality and public confidence that is irreplaceable.

“They form the backbone of our election processes, especially as ad hoc staff, whose dedication, discipline, and patriotism are critical to the success of our elections.”

To illustrate the partnership between INEC and the NYSC, Prof. Amupitan cited data from the 2023 general election. He explained that INEC deployed roughly 1.2 million ad hoc staff for that election, and that over 70 percent of this workforce—about 850,000 individuals—were drawn from NYSC members and student volunteers.

Amupitan added: “For the 2027 general election, we will need 707,384 ad hoc staff (corps members) for the Presidential and National Assembly election on 16 January 2027; the same number will be required for the Governorship and Houses of Assembly election on 6 February 2027, giving a total of 1,414,768.

“For the Ekiti and Osun State governorship elections and the bye‑elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi and Kano states, we will need 52,446 corps members.”

Amupitan highlighted that in many states, corps members accounted for nearly 90 percent of the Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers. “These young Nigerians did not just facilitate voting; they protected the sanctity of the ballot in 176,846 polling units across the most difficult terrains of this country.”

He also stressed that beyond the general election, corps members have played a pivotal role in off‑cycle engagements, notably during the Anambra Governorship Election and the FCT Area Council polls. “In those exercises, it was the digital proficiency of your corps members that ensured the seamless performance of our Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), proving they are the tech‑savvy backbone of our modern democracy. Their resilience ensured that the democratic process in the Anambra and FCT council polls remained uninterrupted despite local complexities,” he said.

Amupitan acknowledged that the contribution of corps members often comes at a heavy price and affirmed that the commission does not take this for granted. He said the commission remains committed to working with the NYSC and security agencies to enforce safety protocols that protect every corps member on duty, adding, “We are constantly refining our insurance and welfare packages to reflect the value we place on their lives.”

With the 2027 general election scheduled for 16 January 2027 approaching, Amupitan emphasized the need for full mobilisation and preparedness of NYSC members for the national event. “In addition to the general elections, we are also preparing for the off‑cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states on 20 June and 16 August, respectively, as well as various bye‑elections, which will serve as critical litmus tests for our innovations before the 2027 general election.

“These elections provide further opportunities to strengthen our democracy, and again, the support and participation of NYSC members will be crucial. We are committed to working closely with your agency to ensure proper training and mobilisation of all ad hoc staff needed for these elections.

“I am here to formally request your continued support,” he concluded.

While thanking INEC for its collaboration with the NYSC, the NYSC Director‑General recalled that the memorandum of understanding between the two organisations was finalised in 2011 and has been periodically renewed. He said corps members are credible, reliable, and easily trainable manpower.

“The last batch of millennials will exit the corps soon, leaving behind Gen Z corps members, known for their digital savviness, which would benefit INEC,” the DG said.

The DG pledged that the NYSC will contribute not only to the 2027 general elections but also to the off‑cycle elections.