INEC is considering a mock presidential election and full audit of its electoral technology systems ahead of the 2027 general election, chairman Amupitan confirms.
The Independent National Electoral Commission is considering conducting a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology systems and staging a mock presidential election as part of efforts to strengthen preparations for the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) disclosed while receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan said the proposals were prompted by concerns arising from the 2023 general election, particularly over the reliability of election technology. The commission, he stated, is considering auditing all its electoral systems ahead of the 2027 polls and conducting a mock presidential election to test the readiness of its processes and technology before the actual elections.
In his words, “The commission was 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.
“The INEC chairman noted that the proposed exercises were not originally included in the commission’s budget but said INEC would explore ways of implementing them because of their potential to strengthen the credibility of the elections.
The proposals form part of the commission’s broader efforts to improve technological reliability, including the continued deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, alongside an ongoing review of its cybersecurity architecture covering system redundancy, penetration testing, and disaster recovery mechanisms.
Amupitan stated that public confidence in the electoral process depended largely on the reliability of the commission’s technology and processes, adding: “INEC remained committed to addressing any gaps identified from previous elections ahead of 2027.”
The chairman identified election technology and cybersecurity as key areas of collaboration between INEC and the United Kingdom, noting that the commission valued its technical partnership with the UK and other international partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process.
Amupitan stated that “electoral credibility remained a shared responsibility requiring the cooperation of political parties, security agencies, civil society, development partners, and citizens.”
Montgomery told the INEC chairman that the UK had been closely monitoring INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general election, including developments from the recent off-cycle elections in Ekiti, the Federal Capital Territory, and Anambra, as well as preparations for the Osun State governorship election.
Montgomery described the UK’s engagement with Nigeria’s electoral process as part of the strategic partnership between both countries, formalized in 2024 and strengthened by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom in March.
The envoy, who said he would conclude his tenure in about six weeks, assured INEC of continued British support under his successor and expressed confidence that the incoming British High Commissioner would sustain a productive working relationship with the commission in the build-up to the 2027 general election.
The proposed exercises were not originally captured in the commission’s budget, but Amupitan stressed that INEC would explore ways to actualize them if required, given their potential value in strengthening the credibility of the general elections.
Yet the commission gave no timeline for when a final decision on the mock poll or audit would be reached.
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to delivering credible, transparent, and inclusive elections. The cybersecurity review covers system redundancy, penetration testing, and disaster recovery mechanisms. Both the BVAS and the IReV portal faced scrutiny after the 2023 elections, when technical failures drew criticism from candidates, observers, and civil society groups.
