The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will deploy more than 1.4 million members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the 2027 general election.
INEC chairman Prof Joash Amupitan disclosed this on Monday during a visit to the NYSC director general Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu at the corps’ headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan described the NYSC as a key partner in Nigeria’s electoral process, saying corps members had played major roles in elections since 1999.
“I dare say that INEC cannot conduct elections in Nigeria without the NYSC,” he said.
According to him, corps members form the bulk of INEC’s ad hoc workforce during elections.
“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,” he said.
The INEC chairman said about 1.2 million ad hoc staff were engaged for the 2023 general election, with nearly 850,000 drawn from the NYSC and student volunteers.
He said the commission would require 707,384 corps members for the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the same number again for the governorship and state assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027.
“For the 2027 general election, we would need 707,384 ad hoc staff (corps members) for the Presidential and National Assembly election on January 16, 2027; the same number would be required for the Governorship and Houses of Assembly election on February 6, 2027, making a total of 1,414,768,” he said.
Amupitan added that another 52,446 corps members would be needed for governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states as well as bye elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi and Kano states.
He said corps members were central to the operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System during recent elections because of their digital skills.
“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,” he said.
The INEC chairman also said the commission was working with security agencies to improve the safety and welfare of corps members involved in election duties.
Responding, Nafiu said the NYSC would continue to support INEC in future elections.
“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,” he said.
