NEWS
INEC Announces Mock Presidential Election to Test Electronic Transmission System, Releases Full Timetable for 2027 General Polls, Assures Nigerians of Transparent Process and Fiscal Responsibility
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct a mock presidential election ahead of the 2027 general polls as part of efforts to strengthen its electoral process and rebuild public confidence in election technology.
The exercise, according to the commission, is aimed at testing its electronic transmission system and restoring public confidence in election technology.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure on Friday during a press briefing in Abuja, where he outlined the commission’s preparedness strategy for the forthcoming elections and addressed key concerns surrounding electoral reforms and funding.
He said the commission would simulate a presidential poll to examine the performance of its digital platforms before the real election.
The mock exercise, he explained, would particularly focus on the electronic transmission of results using the BVAS and the Result Viewing Portal (IREV), tools that have remained central to Nigeria’s evolving electoral framework.
The chairman acknowledged that past technical setbacks had eroded public trust and emphasized the need for thorough testing before the 2027 elections.
“I am committed to even having a mock presidential election. You see, the delicate thing about technology is if a technology is designed without being properly tested.
“We don’t have issues with transmission to IREV in respect of the elections. We are doing everything possible to make sure that we test whatever we have. I did not say that technology will not be used,” he said.
Professor Amupitan further assured Nigerians that the commission would not abandon electronic transmission of results despite ongoing debates at the National Assembly.
“No matter how it ends, we already have our policies. I think that we should ensure that the results are transmitted,” he added.
In addition to announcing the mock exercise, INEC released the official timetable for the 2027 general elections. According to the commission, Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 20, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections are scheduled for March 6, 2027.
With the publication of the Notice of Election, the commission warned political parties to immediately begin preparations in strict compliance with constitutional and statutory provisions. INEC stressed that party primaries must adhere to due process and approved timelines as stipulated in the Electoral Act 2022.
The chairman urged political parties to conduct their internal processes peacefully and transparently, cautioning against violence and inflammatory rhetoric that could threaten national stability.
“Political parties are strongly advised to strictly adhere to the timelines. The Commission will not hesitate to enforce compliance with the law.
“I call on political parties to conduct peaceful and credible primaries, to shun violence and inflammatory rhetoric, and to uphold internal democracy,” he cautioned.
Addressing public concerns over the rising cost of elections, Professor Amupitan explained that each polling unit requires four officials and that close to 450,000 ad-hoc staff would need to be recruited and trained nationwide. He noted that inflationary trends and foreign exchange pressures have significantly increased operational expenses in recent years.
However, he dismissed claims that the 2027 general elections would cost N1 trillion, describing such reports as inaccurate and misleading.
The INEC chairman also refuted allegations that the commission planned to build hospitals using election funds, stating that he had been misquoted in earlier media reports.
“I was misquoted when they said I said I was going to build a hospital. It was not in my budget. There was a question as to why we are buying drugs. They asked if we have hospitals.
“I said, ‘Look, we have clinics and that those drugs were meant for our existing clinics. And a senator said, ‘Why are you building hospitals?’ Nobody ever said we were going to build hospitals. We never said we want to build hospitals,” he said.
He clarified that the announced election dates were determined in strict compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the commission to issue a Notice of Election at least 360 days before polling day.
Furthermore, he explained that Anambra State, Bayelsa State, and Edo State would continue to conduct off-cycle governorship elections in line with subsisting court judgments that altered their electoral timelines.
With these measures, INEC signaled its determination to deliver a credible, transparent, and technologically sound 2027 general election, while reinforcing public tr
ust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.