The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly uncovered and arrested suspects allegedly linked to a plot to attack personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed this during the commission’s South-East Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 general election in Enugu.
According to Amupitan, the commission had identified potential security threats against its temporary election workers, especially corps members expected to participate in the electoral process.
He explained that intelligence provided by the DSS helped uncover the alleged plot and led to the arrest of those suspected to be involved. He added that the suspects would soon be prosecuted.
The INEC chairman said the commission had taken steps to address the identified threats and strengthen security arrangements to protect its personnel during the forthcoming elections.
He also announced plans to convene a security conference to discuss emerging challenges and improve measures for safeguarding voters, electoral officials and election materials.
Amupitan further stated that INEC had strengthened its collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), working alongside security agencies at both national and state levels.
He noted that the commission was adopting an intelligence-driven security framework, supported by its Election Risk Management tools, to identify potential threats and improve preparedness ahead of the polls.
The development comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections, with corps members expected to play a significant role in the deployment of ad hoc personnel across the country.
The commission has reiterated its commitment to working with relevant security agencies to ensure the safety of election workers and support a peaceful and credible electoral process.
