The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering conducting a mock presidential election and a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed the plan in Abuja while receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters.
According to Amupitan, the proposals were prompted by concerns raised after the 2023 general elections, particularly regarding the performance and reliability of election technology. He said the mock presidential election would serve as a large-scale test of the commission’s electoral processes and technological infrastructure ahead of the 2027 polls.
The INEC chairman also revealed that the commission plans to undertake a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology to identify and address potential vulnerabilities before the next general election.
Although the initiatives are not included in the commission’s current budget, Amupitan said INEC is exploring ways to implement them because of their importance in improving the credibility and transparency of future elections.
He explained that the proposals form part of broader efforts to strengthen the commission’s technological systems, including the continued deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. He added that INEC is also reviewing its cybersecurity framework, with a focus on system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms.
Amupitan stressed that public confidence in elections depends largely on the reliability of the commission’s technology and operational processes, reaffirming INEC’s commitment to addressing shortcomings identified in previous elections.
He further identified election technology and cybersecurity as key areas of collaboration with the United Kingdom, noting that INEC has continued to receive technical support from the UK and other development partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
The INEC chairman reiterated the commission’s commitment to conducting credible, transparent and inclusive elections, emphasizing that protecting the integrity of the electoral process requires the collective efforts of political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens.
Speaking earlier, British High Commissioner Richard Montgomery said the United Kingdom has been closely monitoring INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, including recent off-cycle elections in Ekiti, the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra, as well as preparations for the upcoming Osun State governorship election.
Montgomery said the UK’s engagement in Nigeria’s electoral process is part of the strategic partnership between both countries, formalised in 2024 and strengthened during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom in March. He assured the commission of the UK’s continued support under his successor as preparations for the 2027 elections progress.