The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering conducting a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology systems and staging a mock presidential election as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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.
He said the proposals were being considered in response to concerns raised after the 2023 general elections, particularly over the reliability of election technology.
According to Amupitan, the Commission is exploring the possibility of auditing all its electoral systems before the 2027 polls and conducting a mock presidential election to test the readiness of its technology and operational processes.
He noted that although the proposed exercises were not included in the Commission’s budget, INEC would consider ways of implementing them because of their potential to enhance the credibility of future elections.
The INEC chairman said the proposals formed part of the Commission’s broader efforts to strengthen the reliability of its election technology, including the continued deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
He added that the Commission was also reviewing its cyber-security framework, with attention to system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms.
Amupitan said public confidence in the electoral process depended largely on the reliability of INEC’s technology and operational processes, stressing that the Commission remained committed to addressing shortcomings identified during previous elections before the 2027 polls.
He identified election technology and cyber-security as key areas of collaboration between INEC and the United Kingdom, noting that the Commission had continued to benefit from technical support from the UK and other international partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
The INEC chairman reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to conducting credible and transparent elections that reflect the will of Nigerians, adding that electoral integrity requires the collective support of political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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