The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed November 28, 2026, for a nationwide mock election as part of efforts to prevent a repeat of the technical and operational challenges that affected the 2023 general elections.
The commission also announced new safeguards to ensure that only verified polling unit results are uploaded to its INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the preparations on Thursday during a dialogue at Chatham House in London, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative.
The event focused on Nigeria’s 2027 elections, democratic development and regional stability.
According to Amupitan, the November 28 exercise will test the commission’s upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), voter accreditation procedures and electronic transmission of election results.
INEC introduces new safeguards for election results
Amupitan said the commission had reviewed the challenges encountered during the 2023 general elections and introduced additional verification measures to strengthen result management.
He explained that the new process would ensure polling unit results were verified in the presence of party agents before being uploaded to IReV.
The INEC chairman said the commission had identified serious weaknesses in result management, particularly at collation centres, during the 2023 elections.
He noted that some results uploaded to IReV contained inaccurate figures and instances of over-voting.
“We decided that whatever is going to be uploaded from the polling unit is accurate. Because in 2023, there were all manner of things: results that were not correct, results that were full of over-voting, while you were uploading on the IReV. But now we have devised a safeguard.
“The moment it goes to IReV, you can believe what you see on IReV. And then this issue of inconsistency will be removed so that what will now be done at the collation will just be a matter of formality,” he said.
Amupitan acknowledged that the controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election had significantly damaged public confidence in INEC.
“First and foremost, let me speak about what happened in 2023, which resulted in a significant trust deficit for INEC—damage so large that the Commission has not yet fully recovered from it,” he said.
INEC raises alarm over planned attacks on election personnel
The INEC chairman also disclosed that security intelligence had uncovered an alleged plot by bandits to attack election personnel, particularly members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), to disrupt the 2027 general elections.
He said the plot was uncovered through intelligence gathered under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
According to him, suspects linked to the alleged plot were being prosecuted at the Federal High Court by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Amupitan identified insecurity, logistics and result management as three major priorities for the commission ahead of the 2027 elections.
He added that INEC was working with security agencies to ensure election materials and personnel reached polling units on time.
INEC yet to receive full 2027 election funding
Amupitan disclosed that the commission had not received the full funds required to conduct the 2027 general elections.
However, he said INEC had received assurances that the outstanding balance would be released before the end of November.
He explained that part of the outstanding funds would be used to recruit and cater for the welfare of ad hoc election personnel.
The chairman added that recruitment for the election exercise had already commenced.
On allegations of irregularities in the voter register, including claims of an 85 per cent increase in registered voters in a ward in Ebonyi State, Amupitan said the commission would examine the complaint and relevant correspondence.
He explained that the Electoral Act provided procedures for objections and complaints following the continuous voter registration exercise.
Aggrieved persons could also request certified copies of relevant portions of the voter register.
INEC faces over 300 court cases ahead of 2027 polls
The commission is also dealing with more than 300 pending court cases, raising concerns about the possible impact of prolonged litigation on its preparations for the 2027 elections.
Amupitan nevertheless assured Nigerians that INEC would comply with any court decision concerning former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Responding to a question about Atiku’s eligibility should he fail to overturn the court judgment affecting the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the chairman said the commission was constitutionally bound to obey court orders.
“If he eventually fails, well, I’m obligated under Section 285 of the Constitution of Nigeria to obey every court order, especially if it is from the Supreme Court,” he said.
He expressed concern over the growing number of lawsuits, noting that unresolved disputes could complicate the commission’s logistical and operational preparations.
Amupitan called for reforms to ensure pre-election disputes were concluded at least six months or one year before general elections.
INEC begins distribution of election materials
Meanwhile, INEC National Commissioner, Professor Rhoda Gumus, disclosed that the commission had completed nine scheduled activities and was intensifying preparations following assessments across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
She said the commission had commenced the distribution of non-sensitive election materials to some zones.
Gumus also confirmed that the production of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been completed, with most states receiving their first and second batches.
She added that PVC collection was ongoing, while procurement and deployment of BVAS devices were also progressing.
Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Isaac Parashina, who accompanied a delegation from the country’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, said the visit was aimed at learning from Nigeria’s electoral experience ahead of Kenya’s August 2027 general elections.
Group demands prosecution of compromised electoral officials
Separately, the Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) has called on the Federal Government, INEC and security agencies to investigate and prosecute 54 officials allegedly found to have compromised the electoral process.
In a statement issued in Lagos and signed by its Executive Director, Gbenga Soloki, the organisation described the development as a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic process.
CAIDOV argued that identifying, questioning or redeploying the affected officials would not be sufficient, insisting that those found culpable must face prosecution.
The organisation also called for the immediate suspension of the officials pending investigations by the Nigeria Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It further demanded reforms to INEC’s recruitment, training and staff deployment procedures, alongside protection for whistleblowers who exposed alleged electoral misconduct.
