Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct a nationwide mock election on November 28 as part of preparations for the country’s 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan announced the exercise on Thursday during a conference at Chatham House in London, saying the simulation would take place across all 36 states to assess the commission’s readiness for the presidential election.
The exercise will test the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), voter verification procedures and electronic transmission of election results.
Amupitan said the preparations were intended to prevent a recurrence of technical failures and operational problems that damaged public confidence in the 2023 general elections.
Those elections faced widespread criticism over difficulties transmitting polling station results electronically, raising concerns about transparency and the credibility of the electoral process.
The INEC chairman acknowledged that the controversies had weakened public trust in the commission and said restoring confidence remained a central priority ahead of the next vote.
A review of the 2023 elections identified significant weaknesses at collation centres, where results from individual polling stations are compiled and verified.
In response, INEC has introduced additional safeguards designed to prevent inaccurate figures and results indicating over-voting from being uploaded to its electronic Results Viewing Portal.
The commission has also reduced the maximum number of registered voters assigned to each BVAS device from 1,250 to 850, with additional equipment planned for larger polling stations.
Amupitan identified insecurity, logistical difficulties and election results management as major challenges facing the commission.
He said INEC was coordinating with security agencies to protect electoral personnel and materials while improving arrangements for the timely distribution of voting equipment.
Nigeria is scheduled to hold its presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027, followed by governorship and state assembly elections on February 6.
The November simulation will provide an early assessment of whether the commission’s technological upgrades can withstand the demands of a nationwide election.
