The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology and a mock presidential election as part of preparations for the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed the proposal on Thursday while receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said the move was prompted by concerns raised after the 2023 general election, particularly over the reliability of election technology.
“The commission is looking at the possibility of auditing all its systems ahead of the 2027 election, as well as conducting a mock presidential election to test the readiness of its processes and technology before the actual polls,” he said.
Yakubu explained that although the proposed audit and mock election were not captured in the commission’s budget, INEC would explore ways to implement them because of their importance.
He said the initiatives are part of wider efforts to strengthen election technology, including the continued deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
The commission is also reviewing its cyber-security framework with emphasis on system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery.
Yakubu said restoring and sustaining public confidence in elections depends largely on the reliability of INEC’s technology and operational processes.
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to addressing shortcomings identified during previous elections and delivering credible, transparent and inclusive polls in 2027.
The INEC chairman identified election technology and cyber-security as key areas of collaboration with the United Kingdom and other international partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
He stressed that credible elections require the support and cooperation of political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens.
Speaking during the visit, British High Commissioner Richard Montgomery said the United Kingdom has been closely following INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
He noted that the UK has monitored recent off-cycle elections in Ekiti, the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra, as well as preparations for the Osun State governorship election.
Montgomery described the UK’s support for Nigeria’s democratic process as both moral and practical, citing the strategic partnership signed by both countries in 2024 and President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom in March.
The envoy, who is expected to conclude his tenure in about six weeks, expressed confidence that his successor would continue working closely with INEC as preparations for the 2027 general election gather momentum.
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