A Former INEC commissioner, Mike Igini has warned that politicians could manipulate NYSC lists ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Igini alleged that people who are not genuine corps members could be given NYSC uniforms and deployed as election officials.
He urged the NYSC Director-General to verify personnel lists to protect the credibility of the electoral process.
The former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioner Mike Igini has warned that politicians may manipulate National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) lists ahead of the 2027 general elections to compromise the electoral process.
Mike Igini raised this concern during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, where he urged the NYSC to ensure that the names of corps members submitted for election duties were properly verified.
The former INEC official alleged that politicians could introduce people who are not genuine corps members into the lists and provide them with NYSC uniforms to work as election officials.
Mike Igini speaks on NYSC list manipulation
Speaking about his experience in election administration, Igini warned that the recruitment process could be compromised if the identities of people deployed to polling units were not properly checked.
He said: “The NYSC is usually infiltrated. The list is infiltrated, and that’s why the recommendation has already been the DG of NYSC. You must certify the integrity of the list of NYSC.”
Igini further explained how the alleged manipulation could happen at the state level.
He said politicians could infiltrate the lists and bring in people who would be presented as corps members.
“They would bring in people, sew NYSC uniform for them. So what you find at the polling unit are people actually submitted through compromise to our own staff to conduct election at the level of the polling unit,” he added.
The former commissioner called on the NYSC Director-General to take responsibility for verifying the integrity of personnel lists submitted for election duties.
Mike Igini urges INEC to strengthen election monitoring
Igini also stressed the need for stronger monitoring of election officials, arguing that political interference in the recruitment process could expose INEC to credibility problems.
Read also: Just in: APC Chairman Predicts North Will Give Tinubu Over 70% of Votes in 2027 Election
According to him, the officials who conduct elections at polling units deserve greater public attention because they play a direct role in the voting process.
“The most important staff that Nigerians should focus on will be the presiding officers. Who are the presiding officers? They are young men and women who are currently undergoing national youth service in Nigeria,” he said.
Igini also advocated greater use of technology to prevent electoral institutions from being compromised.
He warned that organisations that failed to adopt technological solutions risked falling into disorder and decline.
Mike Igini says voters have a role in protecting their votes
The former INEC commissioner urged Nigerians to pay closer attention to activities at polling units ahead of the 2027 elections.
He noted that voters generally outnumber the four officials assigned to a polling unit, giving citizens an opportunity to monitor the electoral process and demand transparency.
“The power of the people at the polling unit is awesome,” Igini said.
His warning comes as preparations and public discussions around the 2027 general elections continue.
Nigerians React to Mike Igini ‘s allegations
@Edvinng says that Lol so this is what you guys do on a low key. I knew Nigerian politicians can do anything to win.
@lawa14812 says that what’s the point of exposing things uve already partake in before
@HarrysInteriors says that dont worry we go beat them for polling units if they try fuck up i promise them this.
@klevamoney says that I’m privy to this. Someone asked for my NYSC call-up number and ID number even though i have concluded my service to use for Adhoc staff registration for themselves. I turned it down
@JE_Nuel_U says that is that so? This might be what they did in the last election.
@Calgarybits says that they all should be ready to pay with their life. Anyone caught trying to manipulate results will be sent to meet their maker regardless of who they are
@ManleyM… says that the corruption in Nigeria under APC Tinubu’s failed government is crazy
Watch the video here:
“Politicians may compromise NYSC lists to manipulate 2027 elections. They will bring in random people and sew NYSC uniforms for them to conduct elections”
— Mike Igini, former INEC Commissioner https://t.co/LOYYLkgsOD
— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) October 20, 2026
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