INEC Warns Against Attacks on NYSC Members, Election Officials Ahead of 2027 Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned that anyone who attacks or threatens National Youth Service Corps members and other officials deployed for the 2027 general elections will face the full weight of the law.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, issued the warning on Saturday during a South-South zonal interactive meeting and readiness assessment in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Amupitan also charged electoral officials to maintain impartiality, discipline and accountability as the Commission steps up preparations for the 2027 elections.

He warned that partisanship, negligence, absenteeism and financial impropriety by INEC officials would attract disciplinary action.

The INEC chairman said the assessment was part of the Commission’s field-based approach to identifying operational gaps and improving preparedness ahead of the nationwide elections.

He said the South-South has 15,823,550 registered voters, including 3,736,434 in Rivers State, stressing that no eligible voter should be disenfranchised because of administrative or logistical failures.

On electoral technology, Amupitan said INEC was preparing its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, including 57,000 newly procured devices, while auditing its electronic result management systems to improve transparency in result transmission through the INEC Result Viewing Portal.

He also addressed concerns about suspicious photographs on the preliminary voters’ register, saying the Commission was examining the records and would take corrective action based on verified findings.

Amupitan urged Nigerians to participate in the claims and objections process before the publication of the final register, scheduled for Dec. 15, 2026.

The INEC chairman also acknowledged the logistical challenges of conducting elections in the South-South’s riverine and coastal communities.

He said the Commission had finalised a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union to support the transportation of election personnel and materials.

On security, Amupitan said INEC was working with relevant agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to protect voters, electoral personnel and election materials.

He said anyone found threatening or harming INEC officials, including corps members deployed for election duties, would be held accountable under the law.

The chairman also urged staff to comply strictly with electoral laws, regulations and guidelines, while highlighting welfare measures, including improved salaries, hazard and field allowances and increased funding for state offices.