The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections, announcing plans to conduct a nationwide mock accreditation and voting exercise on November 28, 2026, to determine the readiness of its upgraded electoral technology.
The exercise is expected to provide an opportunity for the commission to assess its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), electronic result transmission infrastructure and other operational arrangements before the commencement of the next general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, announced the development on Thursday during an international engagement at Chatham House in London, where he outlined the commission’s strategy for improving electoral credibility and addressing weaknesses identified during previous elections.
The discussion was organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) under the theme, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”
According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Adedayo Oketola, and released through INEC’s Gombe office on Friday, the proposed simulation would replicate important aspects of a presidential election, allowing the commission to examine its accreditation and electronic transmission procedures.
A major component of the preparations is a new technical mechanism designed to prevent election results containing inconsistencies from being uploaded to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Amupitan explained that the commission had developed additional validation measures to identify inaccurate figures at polling-unit level before such results could enter the electronic reporting system.
The chairman said the initiative was informed by the challenges surrounding the 2023 general elections, which attracted widespread criticism and significantly affected public confidence in the electoral body.
He acknowledged that restoring the credibility of the commission would require deliberate institutional reforms and improvements in the way elections are conducted.
“First and foremost, let me speak about what happened in 2023, which resulted in a significant trust deficit for INEC—damage so large that the Commission has not yet fully recovered from it,” he said.
Since taking over leadership of the commission in October 2025, Amupitan said INEC had been examining its performance through subsequent off-cycle elections to identify operational shortcomings and introduce necessary adjustments.
He mentioned the governorship elections in Anambra, Osun and Ekiti States, the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections and 16 legislative by-elections as part of the exercises through which the commission had assessed its electoral processes.
According to him, the recent Anambra and Osun governorship elections demonstrated improvements in election administration, particularly in the speed with which results were processed and announced.
He noted that the 2021 Anambra governorship election took approximately five days to conclude, whereas the more recent election was completed with results declared the following day.
Amupitan argued that the improvements recorded in recent elections should encourage Nigerians to give the commission an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to credible polls.
“Why must Nigerians trust me? Nigerians must trust me because, number one, I have conducted off-cycle elections—and observers agree that the recent election in Osun State marked a clear improvement,” he stated.
INEC targets weaknesses in election result management
The chairman also addressed concerns about electronic transmission of election results, explaining that the commission’s assessment of the 2023 exercise revealed that some of the most serious problems occurred during the collation stage.
He maintained that weaknesses in the management of results were not limited to polling units, stressing that collation centres also required stronger monitoring and verification procedures.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had consequently introduced safeguards intended to prevent results containing discrepancies, including over-voting figures, from appearing on IReV.
He said the new arrangement would subject polling-unit results to the necessary checks before they could be accepted for electronic publication.
“In 2023, there were instances of inaccurate results or results with over-voting being uploaded onto IReV. We have now devised a technical safeguard: if a result is not accurate at the polling unit, it will not go to IReV at all,” he explained.
The commission believes the additional controls will reduce discrepancies, strengthen accountability and improve confidence in the electronic management of election results.
New BVAS arrangements introduced
INEC is also taking steps to prevent a repeat of the technical difficulties experienced with BVAS during the previous general elections.
Amupitan attributed some of the equipment challenges recorded in 2023 to extreme weather conditions and inadequate storage facilities, which affected the reliability of sensitive electoral devices.
To address the situation, he disclosed that the commission was constructing climate-controlled storage facilities across the states of the federation.
The initiative is intended to provide more suitable conditions for preserving electoral equipment and protecting the devices from environmental damage.
INEC has equally procured additional BVAS machines and reviewed the number of registered voters that can be assigned to each device.
Under the revised arrangement, the maximum allocation has been reduced from 1,250 registered voters to 850 per machine.
Consequently, polling units with voter populations exceeding the new limit will be supplied with additional devices to improve accreditation speed and reduce pressure on the available equipment.
The November 28 simulation will provide an opportunity to determine whether these adjustments can deliver the expected improvements.
Outstanding election budget awaited
On preparations involving funding, the INEC chairman disclosed that the commission had received a substantial portion of the money approved for the 2027 general elections but was still expecting the release of the outstanding balance.
He explained that the remaining funds would support several important activities, including the recruitment and welfare of ad hoc personnel who will be deployed to different locations during the elections.
However, Amupitan expressed confidence that the outstanding allocation would be released before the end of November, following assurances given to the commission.
He identified insecurity, logistics and election result management as three major areas that would require sustained attention before the elections.
INEC chairman reaffirms political neutrality
The commission’s chairman also addressed allegations questioning his impartiality, particularly claims circulating on social media linking his telephone number to a controversial account on X, formerly Twitter.
He denied operating an account on the platform and said an independent forensic examination had been obtained in connection with the allegations.
He further disclosed that the matter had been referred to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police for investigation.
Amupitan also dismissed concerns that his previous professional engagements as a lawyer in political disputes could affect his responsibilities as head of the electoral commission.
He explained that those engagements were undertaken in his capacity as a legal practitioner before his appointment and should not be interpreted as evidence of political allegiance.
“My loyalty is solely to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act,” he declared.
He maintained that every institution of government, including the Presidency, National Assembly and state governments, must respect constitutional provisions and operate within the framework of the law.
Youths warned against electoral misinformation
Addressing concerns about the national voters’ register, Amupitan responded to allegations of irregularities, including claims that the number of registered voters in a ward in Ebonyi State had increased by 85 per cent.
He said the commission had investigated the complaint and addressed it through the procedures established by law.
The chairman explained that the Electoral Act provides opportunities for interested individuals and political stakeholders to raise objections, submit claims and obtain certified true copies of the voters’ register where necessary.
He encouraged Nigerians to use these legal channels whenever they identify questionable entries or other concerns relating to voter registration.
Amupitan also called on young Nigerians to take greater responsibility for protecting the country’s democratic process, warning that misinformation and digitally manipulated content could undermine electoral credibility.
He urged social media users to verify information before circulating it, particularly during the election period when false reports could create unnecessary tension and influence public opinion.
“This country belongs to young Nigerians, and they must not relent in working for the Nigeria they desire,” he said.
“Misinformation remains one of the greatest threats to our democracy. Citizens must verify information before acting or sharing, and give our democracy the chance to succeed.”
Nigeria’s 2027 general elections are scheduled to begin with the presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027. Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will follow on February 6, 2027.
With the November 28 exercise approaching, INEC is expected to use the outcome of the nationwide simulation to assess its preparedness and address any remaining technical or operational gaps before the country heads into another major electoral contest.
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