INEC Weighs Technology Audit, Mock Presidential Poll Ahead Of 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology systems and a mock presidential election as part of preparations for the 2027 general election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Thursday while receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Amupitan said the proposals were informed by lessons from the 2023 general election, particularly concerns over the reliability of election technology.

According to him, the commission is considering a full audit of its systems and a nationwide mock presidential election to test the readiness of its technology and operational processes before the 2027 polls.

He acknowledged that the initiatives were not included in INEC’s current budget but said the commission would explore ways to implement them because of their importance in enhancing the credibility of future elections.

The INEC chairman said the planned measures complement ongoing efforts to strengthen the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and the commission’s cyber-security architecture through system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms.

Amupitan stressed that public confidence in elections depends largely on the reliability of INEC’s technology and processes, adding that the commission remains committed to addressing shortcomings identified in previous elections.

He also highlighted election technology and cyber-security as key areas of collaboration between INEC and the United Kingdom, alongside support from other development partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

The chairman reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting credible and transparent elections, noting that electoral integrity requires the collective efforts of political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens.

Earlier, British High Commissioner Richard Montgomery said the UK had been closely monitoring INEC’s preparations for the 2027 elections, including recent off-cycle polls and arrangements for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.

Montgomery, who is due to complete his tenure in six weeks, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic process and expressed confidence that his successor would continue the partnership with INEC ahead of the 2027 general election.