INEC Plans Mock Presidential Election for 2027 Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is contemplating a mock presidential election to prepare for the 2027 general elections. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan disclosed this on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the British High Commission in Nigeria, where he met with Dr. Richard Montgomery.

The proposal for a mock election follows lessons learned from the 2023 general elections, particularly concerning the reliability of electoral technology. Amupitan noted that the commission is exploring the possibility of auditing its systems and conducting a mock presidential election to ensure readiness for the actual polls.

He stressed the importance of credible elections for public confidence in the electoral process. INEC is committed to closing gaps identified in previous elections and is focused on deploying reliable technology, including the bimodal voter accreditation system and enhancing cybersecurity measures.

The UK government is closely monitoring INEC's preparations for the 2027 elections, which include recent off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Anambra.