The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deploy about 1.4 million ad hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday when he received a delegation of the International Republican Institute’s Pre-Election Assessment Mission, led by former United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Jendayi Frazier, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan said the scale of the planned deployment underscored the enormous logistical requirements involved in conducting the 2027 elections.
He said, “In 2027, INEC will deploy a workforce of approximately 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel across more than 176,000 Polling Units nationwide.”
The chairman said the commission had already commenced implementation of its operational roadmap for the elections, including Continuous Voter Registration and a comprehensive audit of the voter register.
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According to him, INEC will deploy its Automated Biometric Identification System to detect and eliminate duplicate voter records and ensure that the register remains accurate.
He added that the commission was strengthening its logistics operations through early deployment frameworks and partnerships with transport unions to ensure the timely opening of polling units on election day.
Amupitan also said INEC would improve access to polling units and provide specialised assistive devices for persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and elderly voters.
He noted that recent off-cycle elections had provided the commission with an opportunity to test its technology, logistics and security arrangements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The INEC chairman said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and electronic display of polling unit results through the INEC Result Viewing portal had achieved upload rates of more than 98 per cent during recent off-cycle elections.
“Technology has permanently closed the door on legacy voting vulnerabilities, ensuring that the ballot box alone determines electoral outcomes,” Amupitan said.
However, he acknowledged that security threats, electoral violence, vote-buying, hate speech, disinformation and foreign information manipulation remained major challenges to the electoral process.
He said INEC was collaborating with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, to tackle the threats.
Amupitan further disclosed that INEC would participate on Tuesday in the signing of the First National Peace Accord on Issue-Based Campaigns by presidential candidates under the auspices of the National Peace Committee.
He said the visit of the IRI delegation, which commenced on August 11 and is expected to end on August 21, was timely, particularly as public campaigns for the 2027 general elections are scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
The INEC chairman welcomed international election observation missions as institutional partners, saying their assessments and recommendations could contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process.
He assured the delegation of the commission’s transparency and full cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Our sole mandate is to serve as an uncompromising, impartial umpire dedicated to delivering a free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive election that reflects the sovereign will of the Nigerian people,” he said.
By Nicholas Ojo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deploy about 1.4 million ad hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday when he received a delegation of the International Republican Institute’s Pre-Election Assessment Mission, led by former United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Jendayi Frazier, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan said the scale of the planned deployment underscored the enormous logistical requirements involved in conducting the 2027 elections.
He said, “In 2027, INEC will deploy a workforce of approximately 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel across more than 176,000 Polling Units nationwide.”
The chairman said the commission had already commenced implementation of its operational roadmap for the elections, including Continuous Voter Registration and a comprehensive audit of the voter register.
According to him, INEC will deploy its Automated Biometric Identification System to detect and eliminate duplicate voter records and ensure that the register remains accurate.
He added that the commission was strengthening its logistics operations through early deployment frameworks and partnerships with transport unions to ensure the timely opening of polling units on election day.
Amupitan also said INEC would improve access to polling units and provide specialised assistive devices for persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and elderly voters.
He noted that recent off-cycle elections had provided the commission with an opportunity to test its technology, logistics and security arrangements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The INEC chairman said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and electronic display of polling unit results through the INEC Result Viewing portal had achieved upload rates of more than 98 per cent during recent off-cycle elections.
“Technology has permanently closed the door on legacy voting vulnerabilities, ensuring that the ballot box alone determines electoral outcomes,” Amupitan said.
However, he acknowledged that security threats, electoral violence, vote-buying, hate speech, disinformation and foreign information manipulation remained major challenges to the electoral process.
He said INEC was collaborating with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, to tackle the threats.
Amupitan further disclosed that INEC would participate on Tuesday in the signing of the First National Peace Accord on Issue-Based Campaigns by presidential candidates under the auspices of the National Peace Committee.
He said the visit of the IRI delegation, which commenced on August 11 and is expected to end on August 21, was timely, particularly as public campaigns for the 2027 general elections are scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
The INEC chairman welcomed international election observation missions as institutional partners, saying their assessments and recommendations could contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process.
He assured the delegation of the commission’s transparency and full cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Our sole mandate is to serve as an uncompromising, impartial umpire dedicated to delivering a free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive election that reflects the sovereign will of the Nigerian people,” he said.
