Ahead of 2027, INEC Considers System-Wide Audit to Avoid 2023 Glitches

By Joseph Sunday

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is considering a full audit of its electoral technology systems and a mock presidential election to boost confidence and ensure preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Thursday, July 16, 2026, when he received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, on a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Amupitan said the Commission deliberated on the two proposals on Thursday, following concerns over the performance of its technology during the 2023 general elections.

According to him, the proposed audit would cover all INEC systems, while the mock presidential election would serve as a comprehensive stress test of the Commission’s processes and technology ahead of the actual polls.

He admitted that the exercises were not captured in the Commission’s current budget, but noted that INEC would find ways to implement them if approved, given their importance to the credibility of the 2027 elections.

The INEC Chairman said the proposals align with ongoing efforts to guarantee technological reliability, including the sustained deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV.

He added that the Commission is also reviewing its cyber-security architecture, with emphasis on system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery.

Amupitan stressed that public confidence in elections rests heavily on the reliability of technology and processes, adding that INEC is determined to close gaps identified in previous elections.

He listed election technology and cyber-security as key areas of collaboration between INEC and the United Kingdom, and commended the technical support from the UK and other partners such as the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, IFES.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to credible and transparent elections that reflect the will of Nigerians, noting that electoral integrity requires the cooperation of political parties, security agencies, civil society, development partners and citizens.

Earlier, Montgomery said the British High Commission had been closely monitoring INEC’s preparations for 2027, including the recent off-cycle elections in Ekiti, the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra, and preparations for the Osun State governorship poll.

He said the UK’s interest in Nigeria’s democracy reflects both moral and strategic support, referencing the strategic partnership signed by both countries in 2024 and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the UK in March.

Montgomery, who disclosed that he would end his tenure in about six weeks, assured INEC of sustained British support under his successor.