The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed conducting a mock presidential election and carrying out a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology as part of efforts to enhance the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed the proposal during a courtesy visit by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to Amupitan, the mock poll will serve as a test run for the commission’s electoral processes and technology, following concerns raised over the performance of election technology during the 2023 general elections.
He explained that the proposed exercise, alongside a full audit of INEC’s electoral systems, is aimed at identifying and addressing possible gaps before the 2027 polls. Although the initiative is not included in the commission’s current budget, he said INEC would explore funding options because of its importance to electoral integrity.
The INEC chairman added that the commission is strengthening its technological infrastructure through the continued deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and enhanced cybersecurity measures, including penetration testing, system redundancy and disaster recovery mechanisms.
Amupitan stressed that restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s elections depends on the reliability of electoral technology and transparent operational processes. He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair and credible elections with the support of political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens.
Speaking during the visit, British High Commissioner Dr. Richard Montgomery said the United Kingdom has been closely monitoring INEC’s preparations for the 2027 elections, including recent off-cycle polls, and pledged continued support for Nigeria’s electoral process under his successor. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
