The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is weighing plans to conduct a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology systems and stage 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.
Prof. Amupitan said the proposals, currently under consideration by the Commission, were prompted by concerns arising from the 2023 general election, particularly regarding the reliability of election technology.
According to him, INEC is exploring the possibility of independently auditing all its technological systems before the 2027 polls and conducting a nationwide mock presidential election to test the readiness of its processes, infrastructure and technology ahead of the actual exercise.
He noted that although the initiatives were not included in the Commission’s current budget, INEC would explore ways to implement them because of their importance in enhancing the credibility and transparency of future elections.
The INEC Chairman said the proposals align with the Commission’s broader efforts to improve electoral technology, including the continued deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), alongside ongoing reviews of its cyber-security architecture covering system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms.
He stressed that public confidence in elections depends largely on the reliability of INEC’s technology and operational processes, assuring Nigerians that the Commission remains committed to addressing shortcomings identified from previous elections before the 2027 general election.
Prof. Amupitan also highlighted election technology and cyber-security as key areas of collaboration between INEC and the United Kingdom, acknowledging the technical support provided by the UK Government and development partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting credible, transparent and inclusive elections that reflect the will of the people, emphasizing that electoral integrity requires the collective efforts of political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens.
Earlier, 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.
He described the UK’s engagement as both a moral and practical commitment to Nigeria’s democracy, referencing the strategic partnership signed by both countries in 2024 and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom in March.
Montgomery, who is expected to conclude his tenure in about six weeks, assured INEC of the UK’s continued support under his successor, expressing confidence that the strong partnership between both sides would continue in the lead-up to the 2027 general election.
