INEC to Conduct Mock Election for 2027 General Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced preparations for the 2027 general elections, including a mock presidential election to ensure the reliability of its electronic transmission system. INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan confirmed that the presidential election is scheduled for February 20, 2027, while the governorship and state assembly elections are set for March 6, 2027.

The mock exercise will test the platform's result viewing portal (IREV) and the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVA) to address technical glitches that affected past elections. Amupitan emphasized that testing is crucial for building public trust in the electoral process.

He stated that the electronic result transmission will remain in use despite ongoing legislative debates. Political parties are urged to conduct primaries transparently and adhere to strict electoral timelines to avoid violence and inflammatory rhetoric regarding election costs.

Amupitan clarified that INEC plans to deploy nearly 450,000 ad hoc staff and dismissed claims of a 1 trillion naira budget diversion from hospitals, confirming that medical allocations exist for INEC clinics. He called for collaboration among security agencies, civil society, media organizations, and political stakeholders for peaceful and credible elections.