DSS Arrests Suspects Over Plot To Target INEC Ad Hoc Staff Ahead Of 2027 Elections

The Department of State Services (DSS) has uncovered and arrested suspects allegedly behind a plot targeting ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this in Enugu during the commission’s South-East Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 general election.

According to the commission’s Daily Bulletin, INEC had identified potential threats to the safety of its ad hoc personnel, especially corps members, and taken measures to neutralise the risks.

Amupitan said the DSS uncovered those allegedly involved in the plot, adding that they would soon be prosecuted.

The INEC chairman also announced plans to convene a security conference to address emerging concerns relating to election security.

He said the commission had strengthened its partnership with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and was working with security agencies at the national and state levels to improve preparations for the elections.

According to him, INEC is deploying its Election Risk Management (ERM) tools to develop what he described as a robust, intelligence-driven security architecture.

Amupitan identified public distrust, voter apathy and the growing spread of misinformation and disinformation as major challenges facing the commission.

He warned that fake news, unverified rumours and deepfake videos could spread rapidly across digital platforms, undermining public confidence in the electoral process.

The INEC chairman said the commission would respond through transparency, prompt official communication and strict operational standards at polling units.

He also warned electoral officials against partisan conduct, administrative negligence, extortion and other ethical violations, insisting that such practices would not be tolerated under his leadership.

Amupitan reminded staff that Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026 requires electoral personnel, including electoral officers, presiding officers, returning officers and participating security officials, to swear an oath of loyalty and neutrality.

He urged officials to ensure that their decisions were guided by the law rather than political interests as the commission intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.