The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the technical problems that disrupted the 2023 presidential election will not happen in 2027.
Speaking at a Citizens’ Townhall on the Electoral Act 2026, Amupitan said the commission is taking proactive steps to ensure a smooth, credible election.
He revealed that INEC plans to conduct a mock presidential election to test its result-transmission systems ahead of the polls.
“Elections around the world now rely heavily on technology, and before deploying it, you must test it thoroughly,” Amupitan said. “During the 2023 federal election, while the BVAS was tested at state-level elections like Osun and Ekiti, it was not fully trialed for the inter-state presidential election. That led to some of the glitches we experienced.”
He added: “We are conducting a mock presidential election to make sure transmission across states works flawlessly. The glitches have been addressed. By God’s grace, the 2027 election will be Nigeria’s best ever.”
Amupitan also highlighted the role of public trust in the electoral process. “We want a system that guarantees legitimacy and inspires confidence. When people trust INEC and their leaders, the country can move forward,” he said.
While acknowledging that perfection is difficult, he insisted the commission is working hard to deliver significant improvements and a credible election.
INEC recently announced the 2027 election schedule: presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, January 16, while governorship and state assembly elections are set for Saturday, February 6.
