INEC to secure polling units, ad-hoc staff, NYSC with risk-mapping tools

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has revealed that it will use risk mapping tools to secure the 176,846 polling units, safeguard ad-hoc staff, particularly members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and guarantee uninhibited access for all voters, including Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) during next year’s general elections.

Chairman of the electoral umpire, Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure when he hosted the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) pre-election fact-finding Mission in Abuja on Friday.

While revealing that the Commission in collaboration with Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), has operationalised an intelligence-driven security architecture known as “ICCES Tentacle.”

According to him: “We recognise that no election can be deemed successful if citizens or election personnel operate under threat. Working through ICCES, alongside the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the NSCDC, and the Armed Forces, we have operationalised an intelligence-driven security architecture known as the “ICCES Tentacle.”

“This framework uses early risk-mapping tools to secure our 176,846 polling units, safeguard ad-hoc staff—particularly members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and guarantee uninhibited access for all voters, including Persons with Disabilities (PWDs),” he said.

Giving further update, the electoral umpire boss admitted that Nigeria is currently navigating complex political transitions and security challenges, a stable, transparent, and peaceful election.

“The 2027 general election represents a pivotal milestone in Nigeria’s uninterrupted democratic journey since 1999. In a sub-region currently navigating complex political transitions and security challenges, a stable, transparent, and peaceful election in Nigeria remains a vital anchor for democratic governance across West Africa.

“The scale of this exercise is vast. Nigeria’s voter population has officially crossed the historic threshold, with our National Register of Voters now standing at over 103 million registered citizens,” he noted.

On the technological readiness for next year’s elections, Amupitan said: “It remains the cornerstone of public trust in our electoral process. The commission has optimised our hardware and software suite.”