DSS Arrests Suspects Over Alleged Plot Against INEC Personnel

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested suspects over an alleged plot targeting ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheduled to participate in the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting in Enugu, saying intelligence supplied by the DSS helped uncover those allegedly involved.

However, the commission did not disclose the identities of the suspects, the details of the alleged plot or why the election personnel were targeted.

Amupitan said the suspects would be prosecuted and that INEC was taking measures to address security challenges before, during and after the elections.

He also announced plans for a security conference to examine threats to the electoral process and strengthen preparations for the polls.

The INEC chairman said the commission was improving its result management systems, including the newly introduced eEC8A electronic verification platform. According to him, the platform would allow the movement of results from polling units to the national collation centre to be tracked and verified in real time through the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Amupitan directed officials to review Continuous Voter Registration records across the Southeast and address obstacles affecting the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

He stressed that no eligible voter should be denied the opportunity to vote because of administrative or logistical difficulties.

He said INEC introduced an online registration portal during the third phase of the exercise to reduce barriers caused by distance and time. The commission has also activated printable PVC technology under Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 to minimise delays in obtaining voter cards.

Amupitan said more than 103 million registered voters were expected to participate in the 2027 elections across 176,846 polling units in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, while governorship and state assembly elections will take place on February 6.

He commended INEC staff for their performance during recent off-cycle governorship elections in Osun, Anambra and Ekiti states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls and 16 federal and state bye-elections.

However, he identified public distrust, voter apathy, misinformation and disinformation as major challenges facing the commission.

He warned that fake news, unverified rumours and deepfake videos could undermine public confidence in the electoral process, adding that the conduct and competence of INEC staff would be crucial in countering false narratives.

Meanwhile, former INEC National Commissioner Mike Igini raised concerns about alleged political interference in the recruitment of election personnel, warning that it could affect the credibility of the 2027 polls.

Speaking on ARISE News, Igini alleged that politicians were infiltrating agencies responsible for supplying election staff, potentially exposing INEC to liabilities arising from the actions of other institutions.

He argued that the failure to enforce relevant laws was a major concern ahead of the elections.

Igini also stressed the need to ensure that ad hoc personnel, particularly presiding officers responsible for overseeing voting and recording results at polling units, were recruited with integrity and independence.