THE Independent National Electoral Commission has disclosed that more than 1.4 million members of the National Youth Service Corps will be deployed for the 2027 general election across the country.
This was contained in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, following a courtesy visit by the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle O. Nafiu, at the Yakubu Gowon House, headquarters of the NYSC in Abuja, on Monday.
Prof. Amupitan described the meeting with the NYSC senior management team as an honour, noting that he was not merely on a formal courtesy visit but on a mission of profound gratitude.
According to him, in the complex architecture of Nigeria’s democracy, there is no institution more vital than the NYSC.
He stressed that corps members have participated in most election cycles since 1999 and declared that INEC could hardly conduct elections in Nigeria without the NYSC.
“As the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I am honoured to have the opportunity to discuss our collaborative efforts toward ensuring a seamless and credible electoral process in Nigeria,” he said.
“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.
“They form the backbone of our election processes, especially as ad hoc staff, whose dedication, discipline, and patriotism are critical to the success of our elections.”
Putting the partnership between INEC and the NYSC into perspective, the chairman referenced institutional data from the 2023 general election.
He explained that INEC deployed about 1.2 million ad hoc staff during the 2023 elections, noting that more than 70 per cent of the workforce — nearly 850,000 individuals — were drawn from the NYSC and student volunteers.
Speaking on preparations for the 2027 general elections, Prof. Amupitan disclosed that over 1.4 million ad hoc staff would be required, with corps members expected to form the majority once again.
“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 stated.
“For the Ekiti State and Osun State governorship elections and the bye-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi and Kano states, we will need 52,446 corps members.”
Prof. Amupitan further noted that in many states, corps members accounted for nearly 90 per cent of Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers during previous elections.
“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.
He also highlighted the role played by corps members during off-cycle elections, particularly the Anambra Governorship Election and the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls.
According to him, the digital proficiency of corps members ensured the seamless performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System during the exercises.
“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. Their resilience ensured that the democratic process in the Anambra and FCT council polls remained uninterrupted despite local complexities,” he added.
The INEC chairman acknowledged that corps members had often made sacrifices during election duties and assured that the commission remained committed to their welfare and safety.
He stated that INEC would continue working with the NYSC and security agencies to ensure strict enforcement of safety protocols for all corps members on election duty.
“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 general election scheduled for January 16, 2027, Amupitan stressed the importance of full mobilisation and readiness of NYSC members for the national assignment.
“In addition to the general elections, we are also preparing for the off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states on June 20 and August 16, respectively, as well as various bye-elections, which will serve as critical litmus tests for our innovations before the 2027 general election,” he said.
“These elections provide further opportunities to strengthen our democracy, and again, the support and participation of NYSC members will be crucial. We are committed to working closely with your agency to ensure proper training and mobilisation of all ad hoc staff needed for these elections.
“I am here to formally request your continued support,” he added.
Responding, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle O. Nafiu, thanked INEC for sustaining collaboration with the scheme and praised the renewed vigour in the partnership between both organisations.
He recalled that the Memorandum of Understanding between INEC and the NYSC was first finalised in 2011 and had been periodically renewed.
The DG described corps members as credible, reliable, and easily trainable manpower for election duties.
“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.
Nafiu assured the commission that the NYSC would contribute not only to the 2027 general election but also to the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections and bye-elections.
He pledged the support of the NYSC toward ensuring successful elections across the country.