The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct a mock accreditation exercise in November 2026 as part of preparations for the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Friday during a meeting with a delegation from the Canadian High Commission at the commission’s headquarters.
He said the exercise would subject the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other electoral equipment to a rigorous field test ahead of the elections.
“We will be subjecting our electoral equipment, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, to a rigorous field test to fortify the sanctity of the ballot.”
2027 Election Dates
Amupitan reaffirmed that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
He said INEC’s priorities include increasing voter participation, securing the ballot and strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.
The INEC chairman cited the August 15 Osun governorship election as an example of the commission’s operational readiness, noting that 3,556 out of 3,763 polling units opened by 8:30 a.m.
He said the commission would use the lessons from Osun as a benchmark for its preparations for the 2027 elections.
1.4 Million Personnel for 2027 Polls
Amupitan disclosed that INEC plans to deploy approximately 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.
He said the commission is also focusing on improving electoral technology, expanding inclusion for persons with disabilities, women and youths, strengthening institutional capacity and tackling misinformation.
INEC has also established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Unit to support data management, voter registration and results transmission while monitoring the potential misuse of AI.
Amupitan said INEC plans to participate in the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections in Ottawa, Canada, scheduled for September 9–11, 2026.
He also sought Canada’s assistance with expedited visa processing for the Nigerian delegation attending the conference and reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to neutrality.
