The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Joash Amupitan, has described members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, as the most committed, educated, and patriotic personnel for election duties, saying their presence at polling units has fostered an irreplaceable sense of neutrality and public trust.

This statement was made during a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, by the Director General of the NYSC, OO Nafiu.

Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s dedication to collaborating with the NYSC and security agencies to ensure that safety protocols are rigorously implemented to safeguard every Corps member engaged in election duties.

“We are continually enhancing our insurance and welfare programs to reflect the significance we attribute to their lives,” he stated.

He further remarked, “As we anticipate the upcoming general elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, I wish to stress the necessity of full mobilization and readiness of the NYSC for this national event. Our joint efforts are crucial to guarantee that the electoral process remains transparent and credible.”

“For the 2027 general elections, we will require 707,384 Corps Members for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027. The same number will also be needed for the Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections on February 6, 2027, totaling 1,414,768.”

The INEC Chairman noted that in numerous states, Corps members represented nearly 90 percent of the commission’s Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers, who not only facilitated voting but also upheld the integrity of the ballot in 176,846 polling units across some of the most challenging terrains in the country.

He specifically commended the performance of Corps members during the Anambra gubernatorial and FCT Area Council elections, where their digital skills ensured the smooth operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS.

Amupitan also committed to INEC’s preparedness to collaborate closely with NYSC to ensure adequate training and mobilization of all ad hoc staff required for the upcoming 2026 off-cycle and 2027 general elections.

He stated, “Our objective is to ensure a well-structured, efficient, and peaceful electoral process, which can only be realized through collaboration, dedication, and shared responsibility. We anticipate your ongoing cooperation and partnership in making these elections a success for Nigeria.”