By George Omagbemi Sylvester
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering conducting a mock presidential election as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections, in a bid to evaluate the reliability of its electoral technology and prevent a repeat of the technical glitches experienced during the 2023 presidential poll.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the plan on Thursday, July 16, 2026, while receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. He said the exercise would be accompanied by a comprehensive audit of INEC’s electoral systems to identify and address potential vulnerabilities before the 2027 elections.
According to Amupitan, the Commission is determined to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process by ensuring that all technological platforms, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result management systems, function efficiently during future elections.
He also expressed concern over the growing threat of misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence in the electoral process.
The proposed mock election forms part of INEC’s broader electoral reform agenda aimed at improving transparency, operational efficiency and the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The initiative comes shortly after the Court of Appeal reaffirmed the validity of INEC’s revised timetable and guidelines for the conduct of the polls.
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