By Gabriel Ameh
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct a nationwide mock accreditation and voting exercise on November 28, 2026, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Thursday, November 12, during a high-level discussion at Chatham House in London, where he outlined measures aimed at restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Speaking at the dialogue, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Amupitan said the Commission had introduced technical safeguards to prevent inaccurate election results and figures reflecting over-voting from being uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
He acknowledged that controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election had significantly damaged public confidence in INEC, adding that the Commission was working to address the weaknesses exposed by the exercise.
According to him, lessons from subsequent off-cycle elections, including the governorship polls in Anambra and Osun states, have helped the Commission improve its electoral operations.
Amupitan said the recent elections demonstrated improvements in result management, with the Commission declaring results in both states the day after voting, compared with previous experiences involving prolonged and inconclusive processes.
INEC introduces new safeguards for IReV
Addressing concerns about the credibility of electronic result transmission, the INEC Chairman said the Commission’s review of the 2023 elections identified collation centres as a major source of problems in result management.
He explained that INEC had strengthened its technical systems to prevent results containing inaccuracies or evidence of over-voting from being uploaded to IReV.
The new safeguards, he said, are designed to ensure that figures uploaded to the portal have passed the Commission’s validation procedures.
Amupitan maintained that strengthening the process at the source would reduce discrepancies during collation and improve public confidence in electronically transmitted results.
He added that although INEC considered introducing an entirely new electoral technology for 2027, it decided to upgrade its existing infrastructure because of the limited time remaining before the elections.
BVAS upgrades, climate-controlled storage facilities
The Commission is also addressing technical challenges associated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), particularly malfunctions linked to high temperatures and storage conditions during previous elections.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC was constructing climate-controlled storage facilities across the states to protect the devices.
He also announced that additional BVAS machines had been procured, while the maximum number of voters assigned to a single device had been reduced from 1,250 to 850.
Under the revised arrangement, polling units with more than 850 registered voters will be provided with additional devices.
The November 28 nationwide mock exercise will test the upgraded systems, particularly voter accreditation and electronic transmission of results, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Outstanding election funds expected before November ends
On election financing, the INEC Chairman said the Commission had received a substantial portion of its 2027 election budget but was still awaiting the release of the outstanding balance.
He explained that part of the pending funds would support the recruitment and welfare of ad hoc election personnel.
According to him, INEC has received assurances that the outstanding funds will be released before the end of November 2026.
Amupitan responds to neutrality allegations
The INEC Chairman also addressed allegations questioning his political neutrality, including social media claims linking his phone number to a controversial account on X, formerly Twitter.
He denied operating an X account and disclosed that an independent forensic review had been obtained, while the matter had been referred to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police for investigation.
He also dismissed concerns that his previous legal representation in political disputes could affect his impartiality as INEC chairman.
Amupitan maintained that his professional responsibilities as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria before his appointment should not be interpreted as evidence of political bias.
He stressed that his loyalty was to the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.
INEC addresses voter register concerns
On complaints about alleged irregularities in the voters’ register, including claims of an 85 per cent increase in registered voters in a ward in Ebonyi State, Amupitan said the Commission had investigated and addressed the matter through established procedures.
He noted that the Electoral Act provides opportunities for members of the public to raise claims, submit objections and request certified true copies of the voters’ register.
The INEC Chairman also urged young Nigerians to remain actively involved in the democratic process and resist the spread of misinformation ahead of the 2027 elections.
He warned that digital misinformation remained a major threat to democracy, calling on citizens to verify information before sharing or acting on it.
Nigeria’s 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.
Source: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Statement issued by Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, London, November 12, 2026.
