As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has cautioned corps members against partisan politics, misinformation and irresponsible use of social media.

Speaking on Thursday during an address to the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Katsina, Nafiu urged the young graduates to uphold the scheme’s tradition of neutrality and integrity, warning that any form of political bias could damage public confidence in the organisation.

The NYSC boss specifically advised corps members to stay away from political campaigns and refrain from using social media platforms to promote political parties, candidates or political interests as the nation gradually approaches another election season.

He stressed that the NYSC remains a non-partisan institution and must be seen as such by Nigerians, particularly as corps members are often deployed to support electoral activities across the country.

Nafiu also raised concerns over the growing spread of misinformation online, warning that advances in artificial intelligence have made it easier than ever to manipulate images, videos and other digital content.

According to him, corps members must cultivate the habit of verifying information before sharing it, noting that spreading false or misleading content could have serious consequences, especially during politically sensitive periods.

He reminded the corps members that their conduct online is just as important as their behaviour in public, urging them to exercise caution and responsibility in all forms of communication.

The Director-General further encouraged them to view any future deployment for election duties as a patriotic opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process.

He noted that by helping millions of eligible voters exercise their constitutional rights, corps members would be making a significant contribution to the nation's democracy and electoral credibility.

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The warning comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) projects that more than 1.4 million corps members will be needed as ad-hoc personnel during the 2027 general elections. According to the commission’s estimates, 707,384 corps members will be required for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while a similar number will be engaged for the governorship and State House of Assembly polls.

Given the enormous responsibility, Nafiu urged the corps members to begin preparing themselves by embracing discipline, honesty, professionalism and commitment to national service.

Beyond election-related responsibilities, he encouraged them to maximise their service year by acquiring practical skills, building valuable relationships and positioning themselves for future leadership roles.

He explained that the various orientation camp activities, including drills and Man O’ War exercises, are carefully designed to instill discipline, teamwork, alertness, obedience and a strong sense of responsibility among participants.

Meanwhile, the Katsina State NYSC Coordinator disclosed that a total of 1,333 corps members have been registered at the camp, made up of 759 males and 574 females.

With political campaigns expected to intensify in the coming months, Nafiu reiterated the importance of protecting the credibility and reputation of the NYSC, urging corps members to remain responsible, neutral and law-abiding both online and offline.

His message serves as a timely reminder that the integrity of the electoral process depends not only on institutions but also on the conduct of those entrusted with supporting it.