The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle O. Nafiu, at the Yakubu Gowon House, N.Y.S.C. Headquarters, Abuja, to deliberate on the preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Professor Amupitan notified Brigadier General Nafiu that INEC would need over 1.4 million National Youth Service Corps members to be deployed for the 2027 general elections.

The INEC, Prof. Amupitan, was of the view that the meeting with the NYSC Senior Management team was an honour, not just 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 pillar more vital than the NYSC.

He emphasised that corps members have participated in most election cycles since 1999, adding that INEC cannot conduct elections in Nigeria without the NYSC.

Putting the partnership between INEC and the NYSC into perspective, Prof. Amupitan referenced institutional data from the 2023 general election.

He explained that for the 2023 elections, INEC deployed approximately 1.2 million ad hoc staff, noting that it was a staggering fact that over 70 per cent of that massive workforce — nearly 850,000 individuals — were drawn from the ranks of the NYSC and student volunteers.

Speaking on the workforce required for the forthcoming 2027 elections, the chairman said over 1.4 million ad hoc staff would be engaged, with corps members being in the majority as usual.

The INEC chairman said, “For the 2027 general election, INEC 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.

Prof. Amupitan emphasised that in many states, corps members accounted for nearly 90 per cent of the 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 the most difficult terrains of this country.”

He stressed that beyond the general election, the corps’ contribution has been pivotal in off-cycle engagements, notably during the Anambra Governorship Election and the FCT Area Council polls.

He also acknowledged that the contribution of the corps members had often come at a heavy price, noting that the commission does not take this for granted.

He said the commission remained committed to working with the NYSC and security agencies to ensure that safety protocols are strictly enforced to protect every corps member on duty, adding, “We are constantly refining our insurance and welfare packages to reflect the value we place on their lives.”