The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has raised concerns over an alleged plot by bandits to target corps members and disrupt the 2027 general election.
Amupitan disclosed this while speaking at Chatham House in London, where he revealed that intelligence available to the Commission indicated that some criminal kingpins were planning to intimidate, threaten and kidnap ad-hoc electoral personnel.
He identified members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who are expected to be deployed across the country for the elections, as among the potential targets.
According to him, intelligence-driven operations had led to the arrest of suspected masterminds behind the alleged plot.
The INEC chairman said the suspects had been taken to court through the Department of State Services (DSS).
“Intelligence-driven operations had led to the arrest of suspected masterminds behind the alleged plot, and they have been taken to court through the DSS,” Amupitan said.
He warned that anyone who threatens, attacks or harms electoral personnel during the election process would face the full weight of the law.
Amupitan stressed that INEC would not compromise the safety of its staff and ad-hoc workers, particularly corps members who would be deployed to polling units across the country.
He further disclosed that the Commission was strengthening its collaboration with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to identify and address emerging threats ahead of election day.
According to him, the credibility of the 2027 general election would depend largely on the neutrality, professionalism and commitment of electoral personnel, especially those working at the grassroots level.
The INEC chairman also warned electoral officers against partisan activities and administrative negligence, noting that officials who violate electoral regulations would face appropriate sanctions.
