The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a new intelligence-driven security strategy aimed at preventing electoral violence and protecting voters, election officials and sensitive materials ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the initiative on Tuesday during the North-East Zonal Interactive Meeting and Election Readiness Assessment held in Gombe State.
He warned that individuals found threatening or attacking electoral personnel, including National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving as ad-hoc staff, would face prosecution.
The commission said the strategy represents a departure from security arrangements concentrated around election day towards proactive identification and prevention of threats.
Under the framework, known as the “ICCES Tentacle,” security coordination will extend from national and state headquarters to local government areas and Registration Area Centres.
The initiative involves collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Armed Forces and other security agencies.
Amupitan explained that the arrangement would operate through three principal components: identifying electoral risks, protecting personnel and equipment, and guaranteeing safe access to polling units.
The first component, “Map and Mitigate,” will use Electoral Risk Management tools to identify potential violence hotspots and local security vulnerabilities before elections commence.
The second, “Ensure Safety,” will focus on protecting voters, electoral workers and technological infrastructure, including Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices.
The third, “Guarantee Access,” seeks to ensure that all 176,846 polling units nationwide remain accessible and secure.
The INEC chairman also disclosed that intelligence operations coordinated by the DSS had reportedly uncovered a plot targeting electoral workers and NYSC members.
According to him, security agencies disrupted the alleged plot, arrested its principal organisers and commenced prosecution.
“Let me send a clear message from Gombe,” Amupitan said, warning that threats against commission personnel would attract the full weight of the law.
He further announced plans for a National Election Security Conference in Abuja to finalise security arrangements for areas considered particularly vulnerable.
Addressing preparations in the North-East, Amupitan acknowledged the logistical and security difficulties associated with the region’s extensive landmass and remote communities.
He disclosed that the zone has 13,965,475 registered voters, representing 13.51 per cent of Nigeria’s voter register.
Bauchi leads the region with 3,012,547 registered voters, followed by Borno with 2,765,165 and Adamawa with 2,431,146.
Taraba, Gombe and Yobe account for the remaining registered voters.
The commission listed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and state assembly elections are scheduled for February 6.
Gombe Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Muktar Gajiram, speaking for his North-East counterparts, pledged compliance with preparations covering voter registration records, logistics and electoral technology.
Amupitan maintained that credible elections require an environment free from intimidation, describing security as fundamental to electoral integrity.
Ezeana Emmanuel
