By Palang Paul
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is considering a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology and a mock presidential election to strengthen preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
The proposal was disclosed on Thursday in Abuja by INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), while receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, during a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters.
Amupitan said the proposals were being considered by the Commission in response to concerns raised after the 2023 general election, particularly over the reliability of election technology.
According to him, INEC is exploring the possibility of conducting a full audit of its electoral technology systems and staging a nationwide mock presidential election to test the functionality of its processes, infrastructure and digital platforms before the 2027 polls.
He acknowledged that the initiatives were not included in the Commission’s approved budget but said INEC would explore funding options if the exercises were deemed necessary because of their potential to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
The INEC chairman said the proposed measures form part of broader reforms aimed at improving technological reliability, including the continued deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and a comprehensive review of the Commission’s cybersecurity architecture covering system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms.
Amupitan stressed that the credibility of elections depends largely on the reliability of electoral technology and institutional processes, adding that INEC is determined to address lessons identified from previous elections before Nigerians return to the polls in 2027.
He also highlighted election technology and cybersecurity as key areas of collaboration between INEC and the United Kingdom, noting that the Commission continues to benefit from technical support provided by the UK Government and international partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
Reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to credible and transparent elections, Amupitan said safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy requires collective responsibility involving 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 forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
Montgomery described the UK’s engagement as part of its longstanding commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic development, referencing the strategic partnership signed by both countries in 2024 and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom in March.
The envoy, who said he would complete his diplomatic assignment in Nigeria in about six weeks, assured INEC that British support would continue under his successor, expressing confidence that the existing partnership would be sustained as preparations for the 2027 general election gather momentum.
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