The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct a nationwide mock presidential election as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections. The exercise is aimed at stress-testing the commission’s election technology, particularly its electronic accreditation and result transmission systems, while identifying possible weaknesses before Nigerians head to the polls.
Nigeria’s electoral umpire is preparing to take an unprecedented step ahead of the 2027 general elections by staging a nationwide mock presidential poll designed to test the reliability of its election technology.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed that the commission is considering the exercise alongside a comprehensive audit of its technological infrastructure as part of efforts to deliver a more credible electoral process.
According to Amupitan, the proposed mock poll is intended to expose any technical or operational shortcomings before the actual presidential election.
The commission said lessons learnt from the 2023 general election—particularly concerns surrounding electronic result transmission and election technology—have informed the decision to conduct extensive testing well ahead of the 2027 polls.
Beyond the mock election, INEC is also proposing a full audit of its digital election infrastructure.
The review is expected to assess the performance, reliability and security of the commission’s electronic systems, including voter accreditation technology, result transmission platforms and other digital tools that will be deployed during the elections.
Officials believe the exercise will help improve transparency while strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.
Amupitan revealed the proposal during a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, at INEC headquarters in Abuja.
The discussion focused on Nigeria’s democratic development, electoral reforms and preparations for the next general election, with the commission reiterating its commitment to improving election management through technology and continuous institutional reforms.
Election observers have repeatedly called on INEC to subject its technology to wider public testing before national elections.
Unlike previous mock accreditation exercises conducted during off-cycle elections, the proposed presidential simulation would provide a nationwide assessment of how the commission’s systems perform under conditions closer to an actual general election.
Analysts say such testing could help identify technical bottlenecks, improve staff preparedness and reduce the risk of system failures on election day.
INEC has not announced a date for the proposed mock presidential election.
The commission said discussions are ongoing and that details of the exercise will be communicated after internal consultations and necessary approvals are concluded.
If implemented, the mock presidential election would mark one of INEC’s most ambitious pre-election preparedness exercises, offering an opportunity to evaluate technology, logistics and operational readiness long before Nigerians cast their ballots in 2027. The commission hopes the initiative will strengthen confidence in the credibility and integrity of future elections.