INEC Plans Mock Presidential Poll Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is contemplating a mock presidential election prior to the 2027 general election to assess the reliability of its electoral technology. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan made this disclosure on Thursday during a courtesy visit from Dr. Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, at INEC's headquarters in Abuja.

The proposal arises from concerns regarding the reliability of electoral technology highlighted during the 2023 general election. Prof. Amupitan indicated that the commission is exploring the possibility of auditing its systems and conducting a mock presidential election to ensure readiness for the actual polls.

This exercise is not currently included in INEC's budget, but the commission is looking for ways to implement it to enhance the credibility of the upcoming elections. The proposal is part of broader efforts to improve technological reliability, including the continued deployment of the bimodal voter accreditation system and a review of INEC's cybersecurity architecture.