INEC Sets November 28 Nationwide Mock Election, Promises Accurate IReV Uploads in 2027
Oru Leonard
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct a nationwide mock accreditation and voting exercise on November 28, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen its electoral technology and restore public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Thursday in London during a high-level dialogue organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) at Chatham House.
The dialogue was held under the theme, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”
Amupitan assured Nigerians that the Commission was putting measures in place to prevent inaccurate election results from being uploaded to its INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), insisting that the technical safeguards being developed would eliminate discrepancies at the polling-unit level.
He said the Commission’s post-2023 election assessment identified collation centres, rather than polling units, as the major source of result-management challenges.
According to him, INEC has introduced a validation mechanism that will prevent results containing inaccuracies or figures indicating over-voting from being uploaded to IReV.
“In 2023, there were instances of inaccurate results or results with over-voting being uploaded onto IReV. We have now devised a technical safeguard: if a result is not accurate at the polling unit, it will not go to IReV at all,” he said.
The INEC chairman maintained that the new arrangement would strengthen transparency and ensure that results displayed on the portal reflect accurate polling-unit figures.
He explained that although the Commission considered adopting an entirely new electoral technology for the 2027 elections, it decided to upgrade its existing infrastructure because of the limited time available before the polls.
On concerns surrounding the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), particularly its reported vulnerability to extreme temperatures during the 2023 elections, Amupitan said INEC was establishing climate-controlled storage facilities across the states.
He added that additional BVAS devices had been procured, while the maximum number of registered voters assigned to each machine had been reduced from 1,250 to 850.
Consequently, polling units with more than 850 registered voters will be provided with multiple devices to minimise operational challenges.
The chairman said the November 28 nationwide mock exercise would test the effectiveness of the upgraded accreditation and electronic result-transmission systems ahead of the general elections.
On funding, Amupitan disclosed that INEC had received a substantial portion of its 2027 election budget but was awaiting the release of the outstanding balance.
He said the Commission had received assurances that the remaining funds, including provisions for recruiting and catering for ad hoc election personnel, would be released before the end of November.
Addressing concerns over public confidence in his leadership, the INEC chairman acknowledged that controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election had significantly damaged the Commission’s credibility.
He, however, pointed to improvements recorded in recent off-cycle elections as evidence of the Commission’s commitment to electoral reforms.
He cited the governorship elections in Anambra and Osun states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, the Ekiti governorship election and 16 legislative by-elections as practical opportunities through which INEC had identified and addressed operational weaknesses.
According to him, the recent elections in Anambra and Osun demonstrated improved administrative efficiency, with results declared the day after voting, unlike previous experiences of prolonged and inconclusive elections.
“Every election is a lesson. The 2023 general election was a major lesson for Nigeria, and the Anambra election was another,” he said.
On allegations questioning his political neutrality, particularly claims linking his phone number to a controversial X account, Amupitan denied operating any account on the platform.
He disclosed that an independent forensic examination had been conducted and the matter referred to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police for investigation.
He also dismissed concerns that his previous professional engagements as a lawyer in political disputes could undermine his impartiality as INEC chairman.
Amupitan insisted that his actions before his appointment were strictly in the discharge of his professional responsibilities as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
“My loyalty is solely to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act,” he declared.
On alleged irregularities in the voters’ register, including claims of an 85 per cent increase in registered voters in a ward in Ebonyi State, he said the Commission had investigated and addressed the complaint in accordance with established legal procedures.
He explained that the Electoral Act provides opportunities for citizens to make claims, raise objections and request certified true copies of the voters’ register.
The INEC chairman urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to remain actively involved in the democratic process and resist the spread of misinformation and digital disinformation.
He warned that unverified information could undermine public confidence in electoral institutions and called on citizens to verify information before sharing it.
“This country belongs to young Nigerians, and they must not relent in working for the Nigeria they desire,” he said.
The 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
