The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it plans to deploy about 1.4 million ad hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide for the 2027 general election.
The Commission said the large-scale deployment is part of measures to strengthen election logistics and ensure the timely movement of personnel and sensitive materials to polling units across the country.
Speaking during an interactive session with the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Abuja on Tuesday, INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said the Commission was drawing lessons from recent off-cycle elections and legislative by-elections to improve its preparations for the 2027 polls.
He said INEC had been using the elections as operational tests for its electoral technology, logistics and security coordination, adding that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal had continued to demonstrate high operational reliability.
According to Amupitan, result-upload rates exceeded 98 percent in recent elections, a development he said had contributed to greater transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
He disclosed that INEC was preparing for one of the largest electoral operations in the country’s history, requiring extensive coordination to ensure that election officials, materials and technology reached polling units on time.
The INEC chairman said the Commission was therefore expanding its early deployment strategy and strengthening collaboration with transport unions to minimise logistical challenges that could disrupt the conduct of the election.
He also stated that INEC was implementing reforms to make voter registration more accessible and improve the accuracy of the voters’ register through online registration and continuous voter register updates.
Amupitan added that the Commission would prioritise inclusivity during the elections by improving access for persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and elderly voters.
On emerging threats to electoral credibility, the INEC chairman identified misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence as major concerns ahead of 2027.
He said the Commission had established an AI-focused unit to develop protocols for the responsible use of artificial intelligence and tackle the spread of false information capable of undermining public confidence in elections.
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s neutrality, stressing that the Commission had no preference for any political party or candidate and remained committed to conducting elections that reflect the will of Nigerians.
He cited the recent Osun State governorship election as part of INEC’s efforts to deliver credible and peaceful polls, while acknowledging the need to address low voter turnout in future elections.
The IRI delegation, led by its President, Dan Twining, is in Nigeria from August 11 to 21, 2026, for a Pre-Election Assessment Mission aimed at evaluating INEC’s preparedness and identifying areas where international cooperation and technical support could strengthen the electoral process.
Twining said the institute’s objective was to support a competitive, peaceful and credible election, adding that the delegation was interested in understanding INEC’s preparations, identifying potential challenges and exploring ways the international community could contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
“Our interest is a competitive, peaceful and credible election in Nigeria, and we look forward to learning how we can support that objective,” Twining said.