- The INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, has announced plans for a mock presidential election to test the commission’s electronic transmission systems before the main polls
- The move aims to rebuild public confidence following past concerns about the performance of the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)
- Despite legislative debates, INEC insists it will continue to transmit results electronically and strengthen its technological infrastructure
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has kick-started preparations for the 2027 general elections with the release of a detailed timetable and plans to conduct a “mock presidential election” aimed at testing its electronic transmission infrastructure.
At a press briefing on Friday, February 13, in Abuja, the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, announced that Presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on February 20, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections are slated for March 6, 2027.
Addressing public concerns over the performance of the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during previous elections, Amupitan assured Nigerians that the commission is taking deliberate steps to prevent any recurrence of technical setbacks.
“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.
He reiterated that INEC remains committed to electronic transmission of results, regardless of ongoing legislative debates around electoral reforms.
“No matter how it ends, we already have our policies. I think that we should ensure that the results are transmitted,” he said.
With the official publication of the Notice of Election, the commission declared that political parties must now begin preparations for their primaries within the legally stipulated timeframe. Amupitan warned against any breach of electoral guidelines and urged parties to demonstrate internal democracy.
“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.
On the issue of election costs, the Chairman explained that the scale of operations significantly affects the commission’s budget.
He noted that each polling unit requires four poll officers and that inflation, foreign exchange volatility, and the training of nearly 450,000 ad-hoc staff contribute to rising expenses.
However, he dismissed claims that INEC plans to spend N1 trillion on the 2027 elections.
Amupitan also refuted media reports alleging that the commission intended to construct hospitals with election funds.
“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 added that the election dates were selected in compliance with constitutional and legal provisions.
According to him, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022 mandate that the Notice of Election must be issued at least 360 days before the elections.
The Chairman further explained that states such as Anambra, Bayelsa, and Edo remain on off-cycle election schedules due to court rulings that altered their tenures, noting that the commission is obligated under Section 76 of the Constitution to maintain those timelines.
As preparations intensify for 2027, INEC called on security agencies, the media, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to approach the electoral process as a shared national responsibility.