KEY POINTS
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INEC has scheduled a nationwide mock accreditation exercise for November 28, 2026, ahead of the 2027 elections.
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The commission has reduced the maximum number of voters assigned to each BVAS machine from 1,250 to 850.
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INEC is introducing new safeguards for electronic results transmission and awaiting the outstanding portion of its 2027 election budget.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled a nationwide mock accreditation exercise for November 28, 2026, as part of preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The exercise will test the commission’s voter accreditation and electronic results transmission systems across all states of the federation to identify and address possible technical problems before the elections.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, announced the date on Thursday, November 12, during a high-level dialogue at Chatham House in London, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative.
The discussion focused on Nigeria’s 2027 elections, the country’s democratic development and regional stability.
Mock Exercise to Simulate Presidential Election
Amupitan said the November 28 exercise would simulate a presidential election and allow the commission to assess the performance of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic results transmission infrastructure.
He explained that the exercise was part of efforts to address technical difficulties experienced during the 2023 general elections and strengthen the credibility of the next polls.
The commission intends to test whether voters can be properly accredited and election results transmitted electronically without technical interruptions.
The mock exercise will cover all states, providing INEC with an opportunity to identify weaknesses and make necessary adjustments before January 2027.
INEC Reduces Number of Voters Assigned to BVAS Machines
The INEC chairman disclosed that the commission had procured additional BVAS devices and reduced the maximum number of registered voters assigned to each machine from 1,250 to 850.
Polling units with more than 850 registered voters will receive additional devices to reduce pressure on individual machines and improve the accreditation process.
Amupitan also revealed that INEC was constructing climate-controlled storage facilities across the states to protect its electoral equipment.
The measure is intended to prevent device malfunctions previously associated with extreme temperatures and poor storage conditions during the 2023 elections.
New Safeguards for Electronic Results Transmission
On electronic results transmission, Amupitan said INEC had introduced additional technical safeguards to prevent inaccurate figures and results indicating over-voting from being uploaded to the commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
He disclosed that a post-election audit conducted after the 2023 general elections identified collation centres, rather than polling units, as the locations where the most significant result management failures occurred.
The commission has therefore decided to upgrade its existing electoral technology instead of introducing an entirely new system, citing the limited time remaining before the 2027 elections.
Amupitan identified insecurity, logistics and result management as the three major areas requiring attention ahead of the polls.
INEC Awaits Outstanding Election Funds
The chairman also disclosed that INEC had received a substantial portion of its budget for the 2027 general elections but was still awaiting the release of the outstanding balance.
He said part of the remaining funds would be used to recruit and provide welfare support for ad hoc election personnel.
According to Amupitan, the commission had received assurances that the outstanding funding would be released before the end of November.
The availability of the funds is expected to support INEC’s preparations, including personnel recruitment and other operational requirements.
Nigeria’s 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 6.
