2027: INEC May Conduct Mock Presidential Election, Says Amupitan

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 efforts to strengthen preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general election.

The proposal was disclosed on Thursday 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 in Abuja.

According to Amupitan, the proposed INEC mock presidential election and technology audit are aimed at addressing concerns raised after the 2023 general election, particularly regarding the reliability of election technology.

He said the commission was considering auditing all its electoral systems ahead of the 2027 polls while also organising a nationwide mock presidential election to test the readiness of its processes and technology before the actual exercise.

“The commission was looking at the possibility of auditing all its systems ahead of the 2027 election, as well as conducting a mock presidential election, to test the readiness of its processes and technology before the actual polls,” he said.

The INEC chairman noted that the proposed exercises were not included in the commission’s current budget but explained that the electoral body would explore ways of implementing them because of their importance in enhancing the credibility of future elections.

He said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve the reliability of election technology, including the continued deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Amupitan also disclosed that the commission is reviewing its cyber-security architecture, with attention on system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms to ensure greater resilience ahead of the 2027 elections.

He stressed that public confidence in the electoral process depends largely on the credibility and reliability of INEC’s technology and operational systems.

According to him, the commission remains committed to addressing shortcomings identified from previous elections and strengthening its preparations before Nigerians head to the polls in 2027.

Amupitan identified election technology and cyber-security as key areas of collaboration between INEC and the United Kingdom, noting that the commission values its technical partnership with the UK Government and other international organisations, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to delivering credible, transparent and inclusive elections, adding that electoral integrity requires the cooperation 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 forthcoming Osun State governorship election.

Montgomery described the UK’s support for Nigeria’s democratic process as both a moral and practical commitment, citing the strategic partnership signed by both countries in 2024 and President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom in March.

The envoy, who is expected to conclude his tenure in about six weeks, assured the commission of continued British support under his successor and expressed confidence that the existing cooperation with INEC would be sustained in the lead-up to the 2027 general election.