INEC Implements Safeguards, Plans Mock Election for 2026

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced new technical safeguards to prevent inaccurate election results from being uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in preparation for the 2027 general elections. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced a nationwide mock accreditation and voting exercise set for November 28, 2026, aimed at testing the commission's electoral technology.

This announcement followed Amupitan's participation in a dialogue at Chatham House in London, organized with the Kimpact Development Initiative. He stated that the mock exercise would simulate the presidential election and verify the effectiveness of the accreditation and electronic result transmission systems.

Amupitan acknowledged the trust deficit created by the 2023 presidential election and emphasized the commission's efforts to restore public confidence through improvements in subsequent elections. He noted that the commission had identified collation centres as a major issue in result management and implemented measures to prevent inaccuracies or over-voting figures from being uploaded to IReV.