The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says more than 1.4 million members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will be engaged as ad hoc personnel for the 2027 general election.
INEC boss Joash Amupitan disclosed this on Monday during a courtesy visit to Olakunle Nafiu at the Yakubu Gowon House in Abuja.
Amupitan described the meeting with the NYSC management team as more than a routine visit, saying it was an opportunity to express appreciation for the long-standing partnership between both institutions.
According to him, corps members have remained central to Nigeria’s electoral process since 1999, stressing that INEC cannot successfully conduct elections without the support of the NYSC.
“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 polling units brings a level of neutrality and public confidence that is irreplaceable,” he said.
The INEC chairman noted that about 1.2 million ad hoc personnel were deployed during the 2023 general election, with more than 70 percent drawn from corps members and student volunteers.
Giving a breakdown for the 2027 exercise, he said 707,384 corps members would be required for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the same number would also be needed for the Governorship and State Assembly elections slated for February 6, 2027.
This, he said, brings the total number of ad hoc personnel required for both election rounds to 1,414,768.
Amupitan added that an additional 52,446 corps members would be engaged for the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as bye-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi and Kano states.
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He stated that in several states during previous elections, corps members constituted nearly 90 percent of 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 some of the most difficult terrains in the country,” he said.
He further praised the corps members for their role in operating the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), describing them as the “tech-savvy backbone” of Nigeria’s democratic process.
Amupitan also acknowledged the risks associated with election duties, noting that some corps members had paid a heavy price in the line of service.
He assured that INEC would continue collaborating with the NYSC and security agencies to strengthen safety measures, while also improving insurance and welfare packages for corps members deployed for election assignments.
