The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed plans to deploy approximately 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel across more than 176,000 Polling Units nationwide for the 2027 General Election.
It revealed this when it received a Pre-Election Assessment Mission (PEAM) delegation of the International Republican Institute (IRI).
At the reception at its headquarters in Abuja, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), welcomed the delegation led by the Institute’s President, Dr. Dan Twining, on Tuesday.
Amupitan said the Commission’s operational roadmap ahead of 2027 includes a continuous voter registration and register audit exercise, using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to eliminate duplicate records, alongside expanded logistics arrangements with transport unions aimed at guaranteeing punctual 8:30am openings at polling locations nationwide.
He said the Commission was also enhancing polling unit access and assistive devices for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), pregnant women, nursing mothers, and elderly voters.
The Chairman noted that the visit coincided with a pivotal point in the electoral calendar, coming three days after the Osun State Off-Cycle Governorship Election and a day ahead of the official commencement of campaigns and rallies for the 2027 General Election on Wednesday.
He said recent off-cycle elections, including in Ekiti and Osun States, alongside several legislative by-elections, had served as operational stress tests for the Commission’s technology, logistics, and security coordination, noting that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal had recorded upload rates above 98 percent in recent contests.
Amupitan identified insecurity, localised electoral violence, vote-buying, hate speech, disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) as key threats to voter confidence, adding that the Commission works with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and anti-graft agencies: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to enforce electoral laws and prosecute offenders.
He disclosed that the Commission was, later on Tuesday, joining presidential candidates at the National Peace Committee’s signing of the First National Peace Accord on Issue-Based Campaigns, aimed at fostering political civility ahead of the 2027 polls.
The Chairman described international observation missions as institutional partners rather than critics, and assured the delegation of the Commission’s transparency and cooperation ahead of the IRI’s International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) for 2027.
He reiterated that INEC holds no preference for any political party or candidate, stating that the Commission’s mandate remains the delivery of a free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive election reflecting the will of the Nigerian people.
Earlier, Dr. Twining commended the Commission for the successful conduct of the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election and praised Nigerians for their continued commitment to democracy.
He said: “We know from our history of working here how committed Nigerians are to exercising their democratic rights.
“We saw and witnessed it.
“Very vigorous people here are really determined to make every vote count.”
Twining said the international community was keen to support Nigeria’s preparations, adding: “We are here to hear from you how you’re planning before the elections, your outlook, your forecast, some of your concerns and anything that we, as the international community, can do to support a peaceful, credible, and democratic election.”
