The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that more than 1.4 million members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will be deployed for the 2027 general election across Nigeria.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made this known during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle O. Nafiu, at the Yakubu Gowon House, the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, on Monday.
Prof. Amupitan described the meeting as more than a formal visit, saying he was in the NYSC headquarters on a mission of gratitude and appreciation for the role corps members continue to play in Nigeria’s democratic process.
According to him, the NYSC remains one of the most critical institutions supporting the conduct of elections in the country.
“In the complex architecture of Nigeria’s democracy, there is no pillar more vital than the NYSC,” he said.
“Corps members have participated in most election cycles since 1999, and I dare say that INEC cannot conduct elections in Nigeria without the NYSC.”
The INEC chairman stated that corps members form the backbone of the commission’s field operations due to their neutrality, discipline and commitment.
“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.
Providing details of the projected workforce 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.
He added that the same number would again be deployed for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027.
This, according to him, brings the total number of corps members required for the two major election exercises to 1,414,768.
He further revealed that an additional 52,446 corps members would be needed for off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as bye-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi and Kano states.
Reflecting on the 2023 general election, the INEC chairman said the commission engaged approximately 1.2 million ad hoc staff nationwide, with more than 70 per cent — nearly 850,000 personnel — drawn from NYSC members and student volunteers.
He explained that corps members accounted for almost 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 stated.
Amupitan also commended corps members for their digital competence during recent elections, especially in operating the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
“In those exercises, it was the digital proficiency of your corps members that ensured the seamless performance of our BVAS, proving they are the tech-savvy backbone of our modern democracy,” he added.
The INEC chairman acknowledged the risks corps members often face during election duties and assured that the commission would continue collaborating with security agencies to improve their safety and welfare.
“We are constantly refining our insurance and welfare packages to reflect the value we place on their lives,” he said.
As preparations intensify for the 2027 elections, Amupitan formally requested the continued support and cooperation of the NYSC.
Responding, NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu reaffirmed the scheme’s commitment to supporting INEC in future elections.
He described corps members as credible, reliable and highly trainable manpower capable of supporting the commission’s operations nationwide.
“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 NYSC DG said.
He also assured the commission that the NYSC would continue to provide support not only for the 2027 general election but also for upcoming off-cycle governorship polls and bye-elections across the country.
