From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology systems and a mock presidential election as part of measures to improve preparations for the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, who paid a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters.
Professor Amupitan said the proposals were being considered in response to lessons learnt from the 2023 general election, particularly concerns surrounding the performance and reliability of election technology.
He explained that the Commission was examining the possibility of auditing all its systems before the 2027 polls and conducting a mock presidential election to test the effectiveness of its processes, equipment and technology ahead of the actual election.
According to him, although the proposed exercises were not initially included in INEC’s budget, the Commission would explore available options to implement them because of their importance in improving electoral credibility.
The INEC Chairman said the proposed audit and mock election formed part of broader efforts to strengthen the reliability of the Commission’s technology infrastructure, including the continued use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
He added that INEC was also reviewing its cybersecurity framework, with attention to system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms to safeguard election processes.
Professor Amupitan stressed that public trust in elections depended largely on the credibility and reliability of the systems deployed by the Commission.
He noted that INEC would continue working with development partners, including the United Kingdom and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), to enhance electoral processes and improve confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
“Electoral credibility is a shared responsibility that requires the cooperation of political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens,” he said.
Earlier, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, said his team had been following INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general election, including developments from recent off-cycle elections in Ekiti, the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra, as well as preparations for the Osun State governorship election.
He described the United Kingdom’s support for Nigeria’s democratic process as both a moral and practical commitment, referencing the strategic partnership between both countries signed in 2024 and President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the UK in March.
The High Commissioner, who disclosed that he would leave office in about six weeks, assured INEC of continued British support under his successor, expressing confidence that the existing relationship between the UK and the Commission would be sustained ahead of the 2027 elections.