The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to organise a nationwide mock presidential election ahead of the 2027 general elections to test its result transmission infrastructure and prevent a repeat of past technical challenges.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Sunday during the Citizens’ Townhall on the Electoral Act 2026 held in Abuja, assuring Nigerians that the commission is determined to deliver what he described as the country’s “best election yet.”
The announcement follows a recent adjustment to the 2027 general election timetable.
INEC had earlier fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for March 6, 2027.
However, under the revised schedule, the presidential and National Assembly polls will now hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.
The changes, according to the commission, are in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Speaking at the town hall meeting, Amupitan stressed the importance of thoroughly testing electoral technology before deployment.
“Election anywhere in the world is now about technology, but before deploying any technology, it is important to test it thoroughly,” he said.
“One of the things we are trying to do before the election is to have a mock presidential election, so that we are sure that this transmission across the states must not fail.”
He explained that while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was piloted during off-cycle governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti prior to the 2023 general elections, it was not sufficiently stress-tested for a nationwide presidential contest.
According to him, the commission is keen on ensuring that interstate transmission of results functions seamlessly during the 2027 polls.
Amupitan expressed confidence that the technical glitches experienced during the 2023 presidential election would not recur.
He noted that safeguards have now been put in place to prevent similar failures, adding that alternative collation methods provided for in the law are only precautionary measures and not substitutes for electronic transmission.
The INEC chairman maintained that the commission’s objective is to guarantee seamless transmission while improving logistics and result collation processes nationwide.
The development comes amid ongoing debates over the amended Electoral Act 2026, recently signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The amendment permits both electronic and manual transmission of results depending on operational feasibility.
Opposition parties have called for further changes, particularly to make electronic transmission mandatory without fallback options.
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to credible elections, describing credible polls as the lifeblood of democracy.
He stated that the 2027 electorate is more politically aware and understands the link between elections and national development.
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