INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan says the Department of State Services uncovered an alleged plan targeting corps members and other temporary election workers ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
By Wapcodehub9ja LIVE News Desk.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) uncovered an alleged plot targeting corps members and other ad hoc personnel expected to support the conduct of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, said those allegedly connected to the plan had been identified and arrested, adding that they were expected to face prosecution.
Amupitan made the disclosure in Enugu during the commission’s South-East Zonal Interactive Meeting with staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 General Election, according to reports citing INEC’s Daily Bulletin.
DSS Investigation and Election Personnel Safety
The INEC chairman said the commission had identified potential security risks involving its temporary election workforce, particularly members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and had taken steps to address the threat.
The DSS was credited with identifying those allegedly behind the plan. However, details about the suspects’ identities, the specific locations involved and the precise nature of the alleged attack were not publicly disclosed in the reports reviewed for this article.
The reported development places the protection of election personnel among the security issues facing INEC as preparations for the 2027 polls continue.
NYSC members have played a significant role in Nigeria’s electoral operations, serving alongside other ad hoc workers in assignments supporting voting and other election-related activities. Their safety is therefore an important consideration in planning for the deployment of personnel across polling units.
INEC Plans Further Security Measures
Amupitan also announced plans for a security conference to address additional concerns surrounding election security. He said the commission had strengthened its partnership with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), which provides a platform for coordination between INEC and relevant security agencies.
According to the chairman, INEC is working with security agencies at national and state levels and using its Election Risk Management tools to develop an intelligence-driven security framework.
The measures are intended to help identify potential threats and improve coordination as the commission prepares for the elections.
Misinformation and Public Confidence
Beyond physical security, Amupitan identified public distrust, voter apathy and the spread of misinformation and disinformation as major challenges confronting the electoral body.
He warned that fabricated reports, unverified rumours and deepfake videos could circulate rapidly online and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
The chairman said INEC would rely on transparency, prompt official communication and disciplined operations at polling units to counter misleading narratives.
He also warned commission staff against partisan conduct, administrative negligence, extortion and other ethical breaches, stressing that election officials must act according to the law rather than political interests.
Accountability Ahead of the 2027 Polls
The reported arrests have renewed attention on the security arrangements required to protect the people responsible for supporting election administration.
Although the public details of the alleged plot remain limited, INEC’s disclosure highlights the importance of cooperation between electoral authorities and security agencies before election personnel are deployed.
The identities of the arrested suspects, the specific allegations against them and the progress of any prosecution had not been detailed in the reports reviewed for this publication.
As preparations continue, the commission faces the task of protecting election workers, safeguarding electoral materials and maintaining public confidence in the process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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