INEC Considers Electoral Technology Audit, Mock Presidential Election Ahead of 2027 Polls
INEC Considers Electoral Technology Audit, Mock Presidential Election Ahead of 2027 Polls
INEC Considers Electoral Technology Audit, Mock Presidential Election Ahead of 2027 Polls
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering conducting a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology systems and organising a mock presidential election as part of efforts to strengthen preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Thursday, July 16, 2026, when he received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, on a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Prof. Amupitan said the proposed measures were being considered in response to concerns arising from the 2023 general elections, particularly issues relating to the reliability and performance of election technology.
According to him, the Commission is considering auditing all its electoral technology systems ahead of the 2027 elections and conducting a mock presidential election to test the readiness of its processes and technology before the actual polls.
He noted that the proposed exercises were not included in the Commission’s original budget but said INEC would explore ways to implement them if necessary, given their potential to strengthen the credibility of the electoral process.
The INEC Chairman said the proposals formed part of the Commission’s broader efforts to improve technological reliability, including the continued deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
He added that INEC was also reviewing its cybersecurity architecture, with particular attention to system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms.
Prof. Amupitan stressed that public confidence in the electoral process depended significantly on the reliability of INEC’s technology and operational systems.
He said the Commission remained committed to identifying and addressing gaps observed in previous elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
The INEC Chairman identified election technology and cybersecurity as key areas of continued collaboration between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, noting that the Commission valued the technical support it had received from the UK and other international partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting credible, transparent elections that reflect the will of Nigerians, adding that electoral credibility remained a shared responsibility involving political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens.
Speaking earlier, Dr. Montgomery said the UK Government had been closely monitoring INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, including recent off-cycle elections in Ekiti State, the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra State, as well as preparations for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
The British High Commissioner described the UK’s interest in Nigeria’s democratic process as both moral and practical support, citing the strategic partnership signed between the two countries in 2024 and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom in March.
Dr. Montgomery, who disclosed that he would be concluding his tenure in about six weeks, assured INEC of the continued support of the British Government under his successor.
He expressed confidence that the incoming British High Commissioner would sustain the productive relationship with INEC as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Considers Electoral Technology Audit, Mock Presidential Election Ahead of 2027 Polls
