INEC Proposes Tech Audit and Mock Presidential Election Ahead of 2027 Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is planning a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology and a mock presidential election to ensure system reliability ahead of the 2027 general elections. This initiative was disclosed by INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), during a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The proposed measures are designed to address public concerns and technical challenges encountered during the 2023 general elections. Acknowledging that public trust in future elections heavily relies on the stability and transparency of its digital infrastructure, the commission aims to use the upcoming preparatory phase to focus on several critical areas:

Comprehensive Systems Audit: A thorough evaluation of all active electoral technologies to identify and resolve vulnerabilities.

Mock Presidential Election: A simulated nationwide exercise to test the operational readiness of voting technology and field personnel under real-world conditions.

Upgraded Cybersecurity Protocols: Ongoing assessments incorporating system redundancy, penetration testing, and robust disaster recovery mechanisms.

Refinement of Core Platforms: Continuous optimization of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

While acknowledging that these extensive testing and auditing procedures were not originally accounted for in the commission’s current budget, Prof. Amupitan emphasized that INEC is actively exploring avenues to fund and execute them due to their importance to electoral credibility. He stressed that electoral credibility remains a shared responsibility requiring the cooperation of political parties, security agencies, civil society, development partners, and citizens. The chairman highlighted electoral technology and cybersecurity as prime areas for international collaboration, appreciating the ongoing technical support provided by the United Kingdom and organizations like the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

During the visit, the outgoing British High Commissioner, Dr. Richard Montgomery, confirmed that the UK government continues to monitor Nigeria’s electoral preparations closely, including developments from recent off-cycle elections and preparations for upcoming state governorship polls. Montgomery reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic development, noting that his successor is prepared to sustain the productive technical partnership with INEC as the country approaches the 2027 elections.