INEC warns attackers of NYSC members, officials ahead of 2027
- INEC chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan warned in Port Harcourt that anyone attacking election officials or NYSC members will face the law.
- He said INEC is working with security agencies to protect voters, staff and election materials before the 2027 general election.
- The South-South has 15,823,550 registered voters, with Rivers State alone accounting for 3,736,434, he said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that anyone who attacks or threatens its officials, including National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted for election duty, will face the law.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, gave the warning on Saturday in Port Harcourt at a meeting with staff from the South-South zone to assess preparations for the 2027 general election.
He said the commission is working with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to protect voters, electoral staff and election materials.
Amupitan also had a message for his own staff: favouritism, skipping duty, carelessness and financial misconduct will attract disciplinary action.
Voter numbers and new equipment
According to the INEC chairman, the South-South zone has 15,823,550 registered voters. Rivers State alone accounts for 3,736,434 of them.
He said no eligible voter should lose the chance to vote because of poor planning or administrative mistakes.
On technology, Amupitan said INEC is getting its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) ready, including 57,000 newly bought devices. The commission is also auditing its electronic result systems to make results posted on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal more transparent.
He said INEC is learning from past governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun, the FCT Area Council elections and 16 by-elections.
Asked about suspicious photographs noticed in the preliminary voters' register published online, Amupitan said the records are being checked and corrections will follow once findings are confirmed.
He urged Nigerians to take part in the ongoing display, claims and objections exercise. The final voters' register is due on December 15, 2026.
Boats, welfare and the riverine challenge
Moving people and materials through the creeks and riverine communities of the South-South is a known headache. Amupitan said INEC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union to move staff and materials safely and on time.
On staff welfare, he pointed to better pay, hazard and field allowances under the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS). Monthly allocations to state offices also rose by 150 per cent from July 1, 2026.
The Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner said the meeting would help INEC spot gaps before the elections. He called for more participation by women, young people and persons with disabilities.
Mrs Helen Ajayi, Director of Planning and Monitoring, said the assessment covers voter registration, Permanent Voter Card collection, staff training, security, voter education and technology across the six South-South states. She asked officials to work with traditional rulers to encourage people to register and vote.
Representatives of the six states presented reports on their readiness, including what is done and what is still pending.
What happens next: The final voters' register is expected on December 15, 2026, and the 2027 general election follows. Nigerians can still check their details and raise objections during the ongoing display exercise.
