INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), revealed this in Enugu, adding that the suspects would soon be arraigned in court.

According to the commission’s Daily Bulletin, Amupitan made the disclosure during the South-East Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 elections.

The INEC chairman said the commission had recently received information about threats to the safety of its ad hoc election personnel, many of whom are NYSC members deployed to support electoral activities.

He disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) had uncovered the alleged plot and arrested those suspected of being involved. He added that the commission was taking steps to protect its temporary workers from potential attacks.

Amupitan also announced plans to convene a security conference soon to address broader concerns surrounding the protection of voters, electoral officials and election materials during the polls.

On preparations for the 2027 elections, the INEC chairman said the commission had strengthened its collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

He explained that the commission was working with security agencies at both national and state levels, using its Election Risk Management tools to develop what he described as a robust, intelligence-driven security framework.

Amupitan identified declining public trust, voter apathy, and the growing spread of misinformation and disinformation as some of the major challenges confronting the electoral body.

He warned that the rapid spread of false information in the digital era could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

“A single malicious fake news post, an unverified rumour, or a deepfake video can travel across millions of screens in seconds,” he said.

According to him, such misleading narratives can gain credibility when the commission fails to communicate effectively or perform its responsibilities adequately, placing additional pressure on officials working in the field.

He stressed that the conduct, competence and integrity of electoral personnel would play a crucial role in countering misinformation and protecting the credibility of the elections.

“The conduct, competence, and character of our staff in the field are either our strongest defence against fake news, or its biggest catalyst,” Amupitan stated.

He said INEC would tackle the challenge through proactive transparency, prompt official communication and strict operational standards at polling units across the country.

The chairman also warned electoral officials against compromising their duties, insisting that anyone found engaging in misconduct would face appropriate sanctions.

“Partisan leaning, administrative negligence, extortion, or compromised ethics will not be tolerated under my leadership,” he warned.

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

He urged them to ensure that all decisions taken in the course of their duties were guided by the law rather than personal interests or political considerations.

“The question governing your actions must never be ‘Who will benefit from this decision?’ The question must always be ‘What does the law require me to do?’” he added.