Electoral commission weighs nationwide systems audit and mock presidential poll to strengthen confidence in technology ahead of the 2027 general election

The Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, on Thursday in Abuja unveiled a significant proposal that could reshape preparations for Nigeria’s next general election, revealing that the commission is considering a comprehensive INEC 2027 Election Technology Audit alongside a mock presidential election to test the resilience of its electoral processes before Nigerians return to the polls in 2027.

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Professor Amupitan disclosed the proposal while receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters, describing the initiative as part of a wider effort to reinforce public confidence in election management following concerns that emerged after the 2023 general election.

According to the commission, both proposals were under consideration during its meeting on Thursday and were designed to provide an independent assessment of the technology that underpins modern elections, while allowing officials to identify and resolve operational weaknesses well before polling day.

“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,” INEC said in a statement following the meeting.

The proposed audit would extend beyond the commission’s existing election technologies, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, both of which have become central to Nigeria’s electoral process in recent years.

Professor Amupitan said the review would also examine cyber security architecture, system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms to improve institutional resilience.

Although the exercises were not included in INEC’s approved budget, Professor Amupitan said the commission would explore practical options for implementing them because of their potential to strengthen the credibility of the 2027 general election.

The proposals represent one of the most ambitious technology validation measures publicly discussed by the commission ahead of a nationwide election.

Rather than waiting until the election period to identify technical shortcomings, the commission appears to be considering a full-scale rehearsal that could expose vulnerabilities under conditions similar to those of an actual presidential poll.

The discussions also reflected the growing international interest in Nigeria’s electoral preparations.

Dr Montgomery noted that the United Kingdom had been closely monitoring INEC’s preparations, including recent off-cycle elections in Ekiti State, the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra State, as well as planning for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.

The British envoy, who said his diplomatic posting in Nigeria would end in about six weeks, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

Dr Montgomery expressed confidence that his successor would continue the partnership with INEC as preparations for the 2027 general election gathered pace.

The announcement builds on Professor Amupitan’s broader reform agenda since assuming office in October 2025.

The INEC chairman has consistently pledged to improve transparency, strengthen operational performance and rebuild public trust through continuous institutional reviews, stakeholder engagement and technological improvements ahead of the next nationwide polls.

The emphasis on technology reflects lessons drawn from the 2023 general election, when delays in uploading presidential election results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal generated widespread public debate, legal disputes and renewed calls for stronger safeguards around election technology.

While INEC maintained that the challenges did not affect the validity of results generated at polling units, the experience placed unprecedented attention on the reliability and resilience of digital election infrastructure.

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If approved, the audit and mock presidential election would mark another step in the commission’s evolving strategy to ensure that technology strengthens, rather than complicates, electoral credibility as Nigeria prepares for one of Africa’s most consequential democratic exercises in 2027.