Jane Salihu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is weighing fresh measures aimed at reinforcing public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process, including a comprehensive audit of its election technology and the conduct of a mock presidential election ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan disclosed the plans on Thursday 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 proposals stem from lessons learnt during the 2023 general election, particularly concerns surrounding the performance and public perception of election technology. He said the Commission is considering subjecting all its electoral systems to a full technical assessment while staging a nationwide mock presidential poll to evaluate operational readiness before Nigerians head to the ballot in 2027.
He explained that although the initiatives were not included in the Commission’s current budget, INEC was exploring options to implement them because of their potential to improve the credibility and transparency of future elections.
The proposed measures form part of broader reforms already underway at the Commission. These include strengthening the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), improving the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and enhancing cyber-security through system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms.
Amupitan stressed that restoring and sustaining public trust in elections requires reliable technology backed by transparent processes. He noted that the Commission remains determined to address identified shortcomings before the next general election.
He also highlighted election technology and cyber-security as key areas of cooperation between INEC and the United Kingdom, acknowledging the support of the UK Government and development partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), in advancing Nigeria’s electoral reforms.
The INEC Chairman reaffirmed that credible elections are the collective responsibility of all stakeholders, including political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and the electorate.
Earlier, British High Commissioner Dr. Richard Montgomery said the UK had been closely monitoring 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 forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
Montgomery described the UK’s engagement as part of its long-standing commitment to supporting democratic governance in Nigeria. As he prepares to conclude his diplomatic assignment in about six weeks, he assured INEC that the partnership would continue under his successor, expressing confidence that bilateral cooperation on electoral development would remain strong in the lead-up to the 2027 general election.
