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 election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this 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 proposals are aimed at addressing concerns raised after the 2023 general election, particularly regarding the reliability of election technology and the need to further enhance public confidence in the electoral process.
He said the Commission was considering a full audit of all its electoral systems ahead of the 2027 polls, alongside a mock presidential election to test the readiness of its technology, processes and operational framework before the nationwide exercise.
The INEC chairman noted that the proposed initiatives were not included in the Commission’s budget but stressed that the electoral body would explore ways to implement them because of their importance to the credibility of future elections.
Amupitan explained that the planned measures form part of INEC’s broader strategy to improve technological reliability through the continued deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and a comprehensive review of the Commission’s cyber-security architecture.
According to him, the cyber-security review covers system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms designed to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
He emphasised that public trust in elections depends largely on the credibility and reliability of the Commission’s technology, adding that INEC remains committed to addressing lessons from previous elections before Nigerians head to the polls in 2027.
The INEC chairman also identified election technology and cyber-security as key areas of collaboration between the Commission and the United Kingdom, noting that INEC has continued to benefit from technical support provided by the UK and other development partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to delivering credible, transparent and inclusive elections, stressing that electoral integrity is a shared responsibility involving political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and the electorate.
Earlier, the British High Commissioner, Dr. Richard Montgomery, said the UK had been closely monitoring INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general election, including recent off-cycle elections in Ekiti, the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra, as well as preparations for the Osun State governorship election.
Montgomery said the UK Government’s continued interest in Nigeria’s democratic process reflects both moral and practical support, citing the strategic partnership signed by Nigeria and the United Kingdom in 2024 and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Britain in March.
The envoy, who disclosed that he would complete his tenure in about six weeks, assured INEC of continued British support under his successor, expressing confidence that the existing partnership would be sustained in the lead-up to the 2027 general election.
