INEC to Conduct Mock Presidential Poll Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct a mock presidential election ahead of the 2027 general polls to test the efficiency of result transmission and logistics systems.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Sunday during a Citizens’ Townhall on the Electoral Act 2026 Townhall Abuja, noting that the exercise is aimed at ensuring seamless interstate transmission of election results before the main election.

According to him, debates surrounding real-time result transmission had dominated national discourse following earlier electoral controversies. He assured Nigerians that technological glitches associated with previous elections had been addressed.

Amupitan said the commission’s audit of the 2023 presidential election revealed that while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) had been tested in state-level elections such as Osun and Ekiti, it required scaling for nationwide deployment.

He stated that the commission had strengthened its infrastructure to eliminate system failures, adding that the “glitch” blamed for transmission challenges in earlier elections would not reoccur.

“The 2027 election will be the best Nigeria has ever conducted. The electorate is more politically aware and understands the link between elections and national development,” he said.

INEC also emphasized that improving result management and electoral logistics remained a key priority in enhancing transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

The commission urged political actors and citizens to support credible elections, noting that trust in the system is essential for democratic consolidation.

The 2027 general election will be Nigeria’s first major nationwide poll under the provisions of the new electoral framework.