Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioner Mike Igini has alleged that some politicians collude with compromised electoral officials to manipulate the list of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members recruited for election duties.
Igini made the allegation during an interview on ARISE News on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, raising concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, some politicians allegedly arrange for the names of genuine corps members to be replaced with those of unauthorised individuals, who are subsequently provided with NYSC uniforms to disguise their identities.
He claimed that these individuals are then deployed as election officials, with the alleged intention of manipulating the voting process and producing results that favour particular political candidates.
Igini warned that such practices, if allowed to occur, could undermine the credibility of elections and weaken public confidence in the electoral system.
He called on the Director-General of the NYSC to verify and certify the authenticity of personnel lists submitted for election duties to prevent impostors from being deployed to polling units.
The former commissioner also stressed the need for stronger screening procedures, greater transparency in the recruitment of ad hoc electoral personnel and accountability for anyone found guilty of electoral malpractice.