THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the arrest of suspects linked to an alleged plot targeting its ad hoc election staff, particularly members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this in Enugu during the commission’s South-East Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 general election. He said the Department of State Services (DSS) had uncovered those behind the alleged plot and that they would soon face prosecution.
According to the commission’s Daily Bulletin, INEC identified potential threats to its ad hoc personnel and took steps to address the risks. Amupitan said the commission was also planning to organise a security conference soon to discuss other challenges associated with election security.
He explained that INEC had strengthened its partnership with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) as part of efforts to improve the protection of election personnel, facilities and processes.
The chairman added that the commission was working with security agencies at both national and state levels to develop a security framework informed by intelligence and election risk assessments.
Through its Election Risk Management (ERM) tools, INEC intends to identify potential threats and improve its preparedness for the 2027 polls.
Beyond physical security, Amupitan identified declining public confidence, voter apathy and the spread of misinformation and disinformation as major challenges facing the commission.
He warned that false reports and manipulated content could spread rapidly online, making it difficult for the public to distinguish verified information from fabricated claims.
“A single malicious fake news post, an unverified rumour, or a deepfake video can travel across millions of screens in seconds,” he warned.
Amupitan said the conduct of election officials could influence how the public responds to misinformation, noting that administrative failures could give false narratives an opportunity to gain credibility.
“The conduct, competence, and character of our staff in the field are either our strongest defence against fake news, or its biggest catalyst,” he stated.
To address these concerns, the INEC chairman said the commission would prioritise openness, timely communication and strict adherence to operational procedures at polling units.
He also warned staff against actions that could undermine the credibility of the electoral process, including political bias, negligence, extortion and violations of professional ethics.
“Partisan leaning, administrative negligence, extortion, or compromised ethics will not be tolerated under my leadership,” Amupitan said.
The chairman further reminded INEC personnel and other officials involved in election administration of their obligation to remain impartial in carrying out their duties.
He cited Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026, saying it requires INEC staff, electoral officers, presiding officers, returning officers and participating security officials to swear an oath of loyalty and neutrality.
Emphasising the need for decisions to be guided by the law rather than personal or political interests, Amupitan said: “The question governing your actions must never be ‘Who will benefit from this decision?’ The question must always be ‘What does the law require me to do?’”
The commission’s preparations for the 2027 general election include addressing security threats, strengthening cooperation with law enforcement agencies and ensuring that its personnel understand their responsibilities.
The planned security conference is expected to provide another platform for discussions on election-related risks, while the commission’s emphasis on neutrality and timely communication reflects its stated efforts to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.