The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deploy more than 1.4 million corps members as ad hoc staff for the 2027 general elections across Nigeria.
The disclosure was made on Monday during a strategic courtesy visit by INEC officials to the headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abuja.
INEC Chairman Reveals 2027 Election Plans
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, led a delegation of national commissioners, directors, and senior officials to the NYSC headquarters at Yakubu Gowon House.
The delegation was received by NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, alongside members of the scheme’s management team.
According to Amupitan, corps members remain central to Nigeria’s electoral process and have consistently served as the backbone of INEC’s election operations since 1999.
The INEC corps members deployment plan has already drawn attention in latest Nigerian politics news ahead of the 2027 elections.
Over 700,000 Corps Members Needed Per Election Phase
The INEC chairman disclosed that the commission would require 707,384 corps members for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Another 707,384 ad hoc personnel would also be needed for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027.
He added that additional personnel would be deployed for off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as bye-elections in several states including Rivers, Kano, Ondo, Enugu, Nasarawa, and Kebbi.
Corps Members Praised for Election Duties
Amupitan commended corps members for their discipline, neutrality, patriotism, and digital skills, 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.
The 2027 general elections Nigeria preparations have continued trending in breaking news Nigeria today as political activities intensify nationwide.
INEC Promises Better Welfare, Security
The INEC chairman also acknowledged the risks faced by corps members during election assignments and assured the NYSC leadership that efforts were ongoing to improve welfare, insurance, and security arrangements.
The issue of election safety has remained a major concern after some corps members reportedly lost their lives during previous election exercises across the country.
NYSC Reacts to Election Mobilisation Plans
Responding, NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu praised the partnership between the NYSC and INEC.
He described corps members as reliable, trainable, and patriotic manpower capable of supporting credible elections nationwide.
Nafiu also noted that the scheme is transitioning into a generation dominated by digitally skilled Gen Z corps members whose ICT knowledge would support modern electoral operations.
He appealed for better welfare packages and compensation for corps members deployed during elections, stressing that proper support would encourage commitment and national service.