2027: INEC warns against threats to election personnel

From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned against threats to election personnel ahead of the 2027 general election, saying it will work with security agencies to protect electoral officials, voters and election materials.

The INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, gave the warning on Tuesday in Gombe during the commission’s North-East zonal interactive meeting with staff and assessment of operational readiness for the 2027 general election.

Amupitan said the commission had adopted a proactive, intelligence-led security framework to address potential threats and strengthen coordination among security agencies before, during and after the elections.

He said the framework, known as the “ICCES Tentacle”, extends security coordination from national and state headquarters to local government areas and Registration Area Centres.

The chairman said the commission was working with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, Armed Forces and other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

According to him, recent joint operations led by the DSS uncovered an alleged plot by criminal kingpins targeting ad-hoc election staff and members of the National Youth Service Corps.

He said the principal suspects had been arrested and were undergoing prosecution.

“Anyone who attempts to threaten, intimidate, or harm our ad-hoc staff, NYSC members, or permanent personnel will be hunted down and brought to justice under the full weight of the law,” Amupitan said.

He identified the protection of election personnel, technological assets, including Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices, and voters as key priorities in the commission’s security arrangements.

Amupitan said INEC would also use Electoral Risk Management tools to identify potential security flashpoints, seasonal threats and local vulnerabilities early enough to enable preventive action.

He added that the commission planned to convene a National Election Security Conference in Abuja to finalise state-specific security protocols for high-risk areas.

The chairman said credible elections depended not only on administrative preparedness and technology but also on the safety of voters, electoral officials and observers.

He urged INEC personnel across the North-East to maintain professionalism, neutrality and discipline, stressing that no election could be considered credible if participants operated under the threat of violence.

The meeting forms part of the commission’s nationwide engagement with staff to assess operational preparedness ahead of the 2027 general election.