INEC Sets November 28 Mock Election for 2027 Cycle

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct a nationwide mock accreditation and voting exercise on November 28, 2026. Announced by Chairman Joash Amupitan during a dialogue at Chatham House in London, the exercise will simulate a presidential election to verify the reliability of upgraded technology and electronic result transmission systems.

To improve system integrity, INEC is implementing new safeguards to block the upload of inaccurate results or those indicating over-voting to the Result Viewing Portal (IReV). The commission is also reducing the voter-to-BVAS device ratio from 1,250 to 850 and constructing climate-controlled storage facilities to prevent equipment failure.

Amupitan confirmed that the commission will obey court verdicts regarding the eligibility of Atiku Abubakar to contest. The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, with governorship and State House of Assembly polls following on February 6.