The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that over 1.4 million members of the National Youth Service Corps would be deployed for the 2027 general election across the country.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, stated this on Monday during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the NYSC, Olakunle Nafiu, at the Yakubu Gowon House, headquarters of the scheme in Abuja.
Amupitan described the NYSC as a critical pillar in Nigeria’s democratic process, saying the electoral body could hardly conduct elections successfully without the participation of corps members.
According to him, corps members have remained the backbone of election operations since 1999, particularly as ad hoc staff deployed to polling units nationwide.
‘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,’ he said.
The INEC chairman disclosed that the commission deployed about 1.2 million ad hoc staff for the 2023 general election, out of which over 70 per cent, representing nearly 850,000 personnel, were corps members and student volunteers.
He said for the 2027 general election, the commission would require 707,384 corps members for the presidential and National Assembly election scheduled for January 16, 2027, while another 707,384 would be deployed for the governorship and state assembly polls slated for February 6, 2027.
This, according to him, brings the total number of corps members needed for both elections to 1,414,768.
Amupitan added that INEC would also require 52,446 corps members for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections as well as bye-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi and Kano states.
He noted that corps members played key roles during the 2023 elections, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers in many states.
‘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 said.
The INEC chairman also commended the corps members for their role in the deployment and operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System during recent off-cycle elections, including the Anambra governorship election and the FCT Area Council polls.
According to him, the digital proficiency of corps members contributed significantly to the seamless conduct of the elections.
He, however, acknowledged the risks often faced by corps members during election duties and assured that the commission was working with security agencies to strengthen safety measures.
‘We are constantly refining our insurance and welfare packages to reflect the value we place on their lives,’ he added.
Amupitan said the commission was already preparing for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections scheduled for June 20 and August 16 respectively, describing them as critical tests for innovations ahead of the 2027 general election.
He appealed for the continued support of the NYSC in the mobilisation and training of ad hoc staff for the elections.
Responding, the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Nafiu, reaffirmed the commitment of the scheme to supporting INEC in the conduct of credible elections.
He recalled that the Memorandum of Understanding between both organisations was first signed in 2011 and had been renewed periodically.
The NYSC DG described corps members as reliable and easily trainable manpower, noting that the emergence of Gen Z corps members with digital skills would further strengthen election management in the country.
He assured INEC of the scheme’s support not only for the 2027 general election but also for forthcoming off-cycle elections and bye-elections.