The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering a full audit of its electoral technology infrastructure and a nationwide mock presidential election ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, who paid a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan said the proposed measures were part of ongoing reforms aimed at addressing concerns from the 2023 general elections and improving confidence in the country’s electoral process.
He explained that the Commission was reviewing the possibility of auditing all election technology systems before the 2027 polls, alongside conducting a mock presidential election to assess the performance and reliability of its systems under real election conditions.
According to him, the initiatives were being considered in response to concerns over the effectiveness and credibility of election technology during the 2023 elections.
The INEC chairman noted that the proposed exercises were not captured in the Commission’s current budget but said the agency would explore funding options if they received approval, given their importance to electoral credibility.
He said INEC would continue to strengthen the use of key technologies, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), while improving its cybersecurity framework.
Amupitan added that the Commission was reviewing measures such as system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery plans to protect its digital infrastructure ahead of future elections.
He said maintaining public trust in elections depends on the reliability of INEC’s technology and operational processes.
The INEC chairman identified electoral technology and cybersecurity as major areas for collaboration between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, acknowledging support from the UK government and other international partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting credible, transparent and inclusive elections, adding that protecting electoral integrity requires cooperation among political parties, security agencies, civil society groups, development partners and citizens.
Speaking at the meeting, Montgomery said the UK had been following INEC’s preparations for the 2027 elections, including recent off-cycle elections in Ekiti, the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra, as well as preparations for the upcoming Osun State governorship election.
The British envoy said his country’s engagement with Nigeria’s electoral process reflected its support for strengthening democracy and was linked to the strategic partnership between both nations signed in 2024 and President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the UK in March.
Montgomery, who said he would conclude his diplomatic assignment in Nigeria in about six weeks, assured INEC that British support for Nigeria’s electoral process would continue under his successor as preparations for the 2027 elections progress.
