INEC to Conduct Mock Accreditation on November 28

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a nationwide mock accreditation exercise set for November 28, 2026. This initiative aims to test the upgraded voter accreditation and electronic result transmission systems in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, revealed this information on November 12 at Chatham House in London during a dialogue organized with the Kimpact Development Initiative. The mock exercise will simulate the presidential election and evaluate the functionality of the upgraded technology, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which faced operational challenges during the 2023 elections.

Amupitan noted that INEC has procured additional BVAS devices and reduced the maximum number of voters per machine from 1,250 to 850. Polling units with over 850 registered voters will receive multiple devices.

INEC is also constructing climate-controlled storage facilities to mitigate BVAS malfunctions due to extreme heat. The Commission has implemented technical safeguards to enhance result accuracy and transparency.