INEC Considers Mock Presidential Election, Technology Audit Ahead of 2027 Polls
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is weighing plans to conduct a nationwide audit of its election technology and organise a mock presidential election as part of preparations for the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed the proposal on Thursday while receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to Amupitan, the initiative is aimed at strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process by testing the commission’s technology and operational readiness before the 2027 elections.
“The commission is looking at the possibility of auditing all its systems ahead of the 2027 election, as well as conducting a mock presidential election to test the readiness of its processes and technology before the actual polls,” he said.
The INEC chairman explained that although the proposed exercises were not captured in the commission’s current budget, the electoral body would explore ways to implement them because of their importance in enhancing public confidence in future elections.
He noted that the commission is also reviewing the performance of its election technology, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), while strengthening its cyber-security framework through system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery measures.
“INEC remains committed to addressing any gaps identified from previous elections ahead of 2027,” Amupitan stated.
He added that election credibility depends not only on technology but also on the collective commitment of political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens.
Amupitan further described election technology and cyber-security as key areas of cooperation between INEC and the United Kingdom, acknowledging the support of the UK Government and other international partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), in improving Nigeria’s electoral process.
Speaking during the visit, British High Commissioner Dr. Richard Montgomery said the United Kingdom has continued to monitor INEC’s preparations for the 2027 elections, including lessons from recent off-cycle polls and ongoing preparations for the Osun State governorship election.
“The UK’s support for Nigeria’s democratic process is both moral and practical, and we remain committed to strengthening our partnership with INEC,” Montgomery said.
The envoy, who is expected to conclude his tenure in about six weeks, assured the commission that British support would continue under his successor as both countries deepen cooperation ahead of the 2027 general election.
