The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology systems and a mock presidential election as part of efforts to strengthen preparations for the 2027 general election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed this on Thursday while receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, during a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to Amupitan, the proposals were informed by concerns raised after the 2023 general election, particularly over the reliability of election technology.

He said the Commission is evaluating a full audit of its electoral technology alongside a nationwide mock presidential election to assess the readiness of its systems, logistics and operational processes ahead of the 2027 polls.

Although the initiatives are not included in INEC’s current budget, Amupitan said the Commission would explore ways to implement them because of their importance in enhancing the credibility of future elections.

He explained that the proposals form part of broader reforms aimed at improving technological reliability, including the continued deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), as well as a review of the Commission’s cybersecurity architecture covering system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms.

The INEC chairman stressed that public confidence in elections depends largely on the reliability of the Commission’s technology and operational processes, adding that lessons from previous elections are guiding ongoing reforms.

He also identified election technology and cybersecurity as key areas for collaboration with the United Kingdom and other development partners, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

Earlier, the British High Commissioner said the UK had been closely monitoring INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general election, including recent off-cycle elections in Ekiti, the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra, as well as preparations for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.

Montgomery, who is expected to conclude his diplomatic posting in about six weeks, assured the Commission of the UK’s continued support under his successor and expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation would deepen ahead of the 2027 elections.

Reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to credible elections, Amupitan said electoral integrity requires the collective efforts of political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and citizens.

“The Commission is committed to delivering elections that are credible, transparent and reflective of the will of Nigerians,” he said.