The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology and a mock presidential election as part of efforts to strengthen preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed this on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan said the proposals, which were under consideration by the commission, were prompted by lessons from the 2023 general election, particularly concerns over the reliability of election technology.
According to him, the commission plans to audit all its electoral technology systems and conduct a nationwide mock presidential poll to assess the readiness of its processes and technology ahead of the 2027 elections.
He noted that although the initiatives were not included in the commission’s budget, INEC would explore ways to implement them because of their importance in enhancing the credibility of future elections.
The INEC chairman said the proposed measures align with the commission’s ongoing efforts to improve the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and its cyber-security framework.
He explained that the cyber-security review includes system redundancy, penetration testing, and disaster recovery mechanisms to improve the resilience of the commission’s electoral technology.
Amupitan stressed that public confidence in the electoral process depends largely on the reliability of INEC’s technology and assured that the commission remains committed to addressing shortcomings identified during previous elections.
Speaking during the visit, British High Commissioner Dr. Richard Montgomery said the United Kingdom had been closely monitoring INEC’s preparations for the 2027 elections, including recent off-cycle polls in Ekiti, the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra, as well as preparations for the Osun governorship election.
Montgomery described the UK’s engagement as part of its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic process under the strategic partnership signed by both countries in 2024.
The envoy, who said he would conclude his tenure in about six weeks, assured the commission of continued British support, expressing confidence that his successor would maintain strong collaboration with INEC ahead of the 2027 polls.
Amupitan identified election technology and cyber-security as key areas of cooperation between INEC and the United Kingdom, while also acknowledging the commission’s technical partnership with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting credible and transparent elections, stressing that electoral integrity requires the collective efforts of political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens.
With less than two years to the 2027 general elections, the proposed technology audit and mock presidential election are expected to help identify and address potential weaknesses while boosting public confidence in the electoral process.