The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct a mock presidential election ahead of the 2027 general election as part of efforts to test and improve the reliability of its electoral systems.
The commission said the exercise would allow it to carry out a detailed assessment of its election technology and identify possible gaps before the next nationwide polls.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, revealed this on Thursday, July 16, 2026, during a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan explained that the proposal was developed in response to concerns raised during the 2023 general election, particularly regarding the performance and reliability of electoral technology.
He said INEC was considering a full audit of its technological systems and a mock presidential election to evaluate the readiness of its processes before the 2027 elections.
Although the proposed activities were not initially included in the commission’s budget, the INEC chairman said the commission would seek ways to implement them because of their importance in improving public confidence in the electoral process.
He added that the plans align with INEC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen election technology, including the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and improvements to its cybersecurity framework.
Amupitan emphasized that the credibility of elections depends heavily on the effectiveness of technology and internal processes, noting that the commission is working to address weaknesses identified from previous elections.
He also highlighted continued cooperation between INEC, the United Kingdom, and other international partners in areas such as cybersecurity, election technology, and electoral reforms.
The INEC chairman reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting transparent, credible elections that reflect the choices of Nigerians, adding that achieving successful elections requires cooperation among political parties, security agencies, civil society groups, development partners, and citizens.
During the meeting, British High Commissioner Dr. Richard Montgomery said the UK had been monitoring Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 elections, including recent off-cycle elections and upcoming governorship polls.
He described Britain’s support for Nigeria’s democratic process as part of the partnership between both countries and assured INEC that cooperation would continue under his successor after the end of his tenure.
