NYSC DG Warns Corps Members Against Political Campaigns Ahead of 2027 Elections.

NYSC DG Warns Corps Members Against Political Campaigns Ahead of 2027 Elections.

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has warned corps members against campaigning for political parties or candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Nafiu gave the warning on Wednesday during a working visit to the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Katsina State, according to Channels Television.

The NYSC Director-General reminded corps members that they are required to remain politically neutral throughout their service year and must not use their NYSC identity or social media platforms to promote partisan political interests.

“As corps members, you are not permitted to campaign for any political party or candidate. If your social media activities are traced to political promotion while wearing the NYSC identity, appropriate action will be taken,” Nafiu cautioned.

He urged corps members to exercise restraint as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that their conduct both online and offline must reflect the responsibilities attached to national service.

Nafiu also warned against the spread of misinformation, particularly AI-generated or manipulated content, which he said could mislead members of the public and create confusion during the election period.

“You don’t just share or repost blindly. Think through what you receive. Verify the source, check when the picture was taken, and determine whether it has been manipulated by AI. Technology has changed the information space completely,” he said.

The NYSC boss described corps members as important stakeholders in Nigeria’s democratic process, noting that many of them are expected to be deployed as ad hoc electoral personnel during the 2027 general elections.

He urged them to view such responsibilities as an opportunity to contribute to credible elections rather than engage in partisan political activities.

“You contribute more to democracy by helping thousands of Nigerians exercise their voting rights than by casting only your own vote. Your service will help deliver credible, free and fair elections,” Nafiu said.

The warning comes as political activities and preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, with social media expected to remain a major platform for political campaigns, mobilisation and public engagement.

The NYSC directive underscores the need for corps members to maintain political neutrality and avoid activities capable of compromising the integrity of their national service or their potential role in the electoral process.

The issue of corps members’ political expression attracted public attention in 2025 following the case of Rita Ushie Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, whose NYSC Certificate of National Service was withheld after she missed a mandatory biometric clearance.

Uguamaye had earlier gained widespread attention after posting a TikTok video in March 2025 in which she criticised economic hardship in Nigeria and made comments about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The NYSC maintained that the withholding of her certificate was due to her failure to participate in the April 2025 biometric clearance exercise and not because of her political comments. Her service was subsequently extended by two months.

However, rights groups and some members of the public questioned the decision, with Amnesty International condemning what it described as harassment and arguing that peaceful criticism is constitutionally protected.

Against this backdrop, the latest warning from the NYSC leadership places renewed emphasis on the need for corps members to exercise caution in their political activities and social media engagements as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.