The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct a mock presidential election ahead of the 2027 general elections, as part of efforts to strengthen result transmission and restore public confidence.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure on Sunday during a Citizens’ Townhall on the 2026 Electoral Act held in Abuja.
“Moving forward, we will conduct mock presidential elections to ensure that transmission across state lines is seamless before the actual vote,” Amupitan said.
Addressing Past Glitches
Debates surrounding the real-time electronic transmission of election results have remained a major issue in Nigeria, particularly following concerns raised during the 2023 presidential election. At the time, INEC cited a “glitch” in the system responsible for transmitting results, sparking controversy and public scrutiny.
Amupitan, a professor of law, assured Nigerians that the commission has resolved the technical shortcomings that affected the earlier poll.
“Regarding the ‘glitch’ that was blamed for issues in 2023, let me be clear: the glitch is eliminated. It will not surface again,” he stated.
He explained that while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) had been tested in off-cycle state elections such as those in Osun and Ekiti, it was not adequately stress-tested for a nationwide presidential election involving interstate transmission at a much larger scale.
“My audit of the 2023 election showed that while the BVAS was tested in state-level elections like Osun and Ekiti, it was not properly tested for the scale of an interstate presidential election,” he added.
Preparations for 2027
With the 2027 general elections approaching, INEC says it is focusing on improving logistics and result management to ensure transparency and credibility.
“By the grace of God, the 2027 election will be the best Nigeria has ever had. The electorate of 2027 is more aware and understands the direct correlation between elections and national development,” Amupitan said.
He emphasised that strengthening public trust remains central to the commission’s reforms.
“We want a process that guarantees the legitimacy and confidence people want to see in their system. When people trust INEC and their leaders, the country will move forward.”
According to him, logistics and result management are priority areas as the commission works to prevent past shortcomings from recurring.
“So result management and logistics are two basic issues that, from our own end, we’re trying to see how best we’re able to manage them very well, so as to enhance the transparency and credibility of the system,” he said.
What you should know
INEC plans to conduct a mock presidential election before the 2027 general elections to test nationwide result transmission systems.
The move comes after controversies surrounding technical glitches in the 2023 presidential poll.
The commission says it has fixed earlier issues and is prioritising logistics, transparency, and public confidence as part of broader reforms under the Electoral Act 2026.
