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 proposal 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 proposed initiatives were prompted by concerns raised after the 2023 general elections, particularly regarding the performance and reliability of election technology.
He said the commission was considering organising a mock presidential election to test the readiness of its electoral processes and technological infrastructure ahead of the 2027 polls.
Amupitan also revealed that INEC is proposing a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology to identify and address potential vulnerabilities before the next general election.
Although the initiatives are not currently captured in the commission’s budget, he said INEC would explore ways to implement them because of their importance in enhancing the credibility of future elections.
The INEC chairman explained that the measures 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 the commission is also reviewing its cybersecurity architecture, with a focus on system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms.
According to him, public confidence in elections depends largely on the reliability of INEC’s technology and operational processes, stressing that the commission remains committed to addressing shortcomings identified during previous elections.
Amupitan identified election technology and cybersecurity as key areas of collaboration with the United Kingdom, noting that INEC has continued to benefit from technical support from the UK and other development partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting credible, transparent and inclusive elections, stressing that protecting electoral integrity requires cooperation among political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens.
Earlier, British High Commissioner Richard Montgomery said the United Kingdom had 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 forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
Montgomery, who is expected to conclude his tenure in about six weeks, assured INEC of the UK’s continued support under his successor as preparations for the 2027 polls gather momentum.
