INEC Chair Assures Nigerians of Improved Technology Ahead of 2027 Polls

By Babatunji Wusu

• Amupitan says 2023 technical glitches will not recur
• INEC to conduct mock presidential election before 2027
• Presidential poll slated for January 16, 2027

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the technical challenges experienced during the 2023 presidential election will not reoccur in 2027.

Amupitan gave the reassurance while speaking at the Citizens’ Townhall on the Electoral Act 2026, stating that the commission has taken deliberate steps to strengthen its result-transmission infrastructure ahead of the next general elections.

Last Friday, INEC announced that the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.

According to the INEC chairman, technology now plays a central role in modern elections, but its deployment must be preceded by thorough testing. Reflecting on the 2023 polls, he noted that while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was tested during off-cycle governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states, it was not adequately stress-tested for the nationwide presidential election, particularly regarding inter-state result transmission.

“One of the things we are trying to do before the election is to have a mock presidential election, so that we are sure that this transmission across the states must not fail,” he said.

Amupitan expressed confidence that the glitches experienced previously have been addressed. “By God’s grace, it will not surface in Nigeria. By the grace of God, the 2027 election will be the best Nigeria has ever had,” he stated, adding that the 2027 electorate is more aware of the link between credible elections and national development.

He emphasized that INEC aims to deliver a process that guarantees legitimacy and restores public confidence, while acknowledging that absolute perfection may be difficult to achieve. Nonetheless, he maintained that the commission remains committed to significant improvements in Nigeria’s electoral system.