By Kazeem Waris
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced fresh technological safeguards to prevent inaccurate election results from being uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission also fixed November 28, 2026, for a nationwide mock accreditation and voting exercise to test its upgraded electoral technology and electronic result transmission system.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, announced the measures on Thursday in London during a high-level dialogue at Chatham House, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), on the theme, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”
Amupitan acknowledged that controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election had eroded public confidence in the commission but assured Nigerians that lessons from the experience had informed ongoing reforms.
He said INEC had identified weaknesses in the result collation process and developed technical measures to prevent inaccurate figures and results involving over-voting from appearing on IReV.
“In 2023, there were instances of inaccurate results or results with over-voting being uploaded onto IReV. We have now devised a technical safeguard: if a result is not accurate at the polling unit, it will not go to IReV at all,” he said.
According to him, the major weaknesses in election result management were largely at collation centres rather than polling units.
The INEC chairman cited recent off-cycle elections in Anambra and Osun states, the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls and legislative by-elections as opportunities through which the commission had identified and addressed operational shortcomings.
He noted that results in the recent Anambra and Osun governorship elections were declared the day after voting, describing the development as an improvement in election management.
On preparations for 2027, Amupitan disclosed that INEC was upgrading its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), including procuring additional devices and reducing the maximum number of registered voters assigned to each machine from 1,250 to 850.
He said polling units with more than 850 registered voters would receive multiple devices to ease pressure on the equipment and improve accreditation.
The commission is also constructing climate-controlled storage facilities across the states to protect election equipment from extreme temperatures and prevent a recurrence of challenges experienced during the 2023 polls.
Amupitan said the November 28 mock exercise would test the upgraded devices, accreditation procedures and electronic transmission of results ahead of the general elections.
On funding, he disclosed that INEC had received a substantial portion of its approved election budget but was awaiting the release of the outstanding balance.
He said the commission had been assured that the funds, needed partly for the recruitment and welfare of ad hoc election personnel, would be released before the end of November.
The chairman identified insecurity, logistics and election result management as major priorities requiring attention ahead of the polls.
Amupitan also reaffirmed his commitment to political neutrality, dismissing allegations linking his telephone number to a controversial account on X, formerly Twitter. He said he did not operate an X account and that the matter had been referred to the Department of State Services and the Inspector-General of Police for investigation.
He maintained that his previous involvement in political cases as a lawyer would not compromise his duties as INEC chairman.
“My loyalty is solely to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act,” he declared.
On concerns over the national voters’ register, including allegations of an 85 per cent increase in registered voters in a ward in Ebonyi State, Amupitan said the commission had investigated the complaint and addressed it through established statutory procedures.
He urged stakeholders to use the legal provisions for claims, objections and requests for certified copies of the voters’ register.
The INEC chairman also warned against misinformation and digital disinformation, urging Nigerians, particularly youths, to verify information before sharing it on social media.
“This country belongs to young Nigerians, and they must not relent in working for the Nigeria they desire,” he said.
“Misinformation remains one of the greatest threats to our democracy. Citizens must verify information before acting or sharing, and give our democracy the chance to succeed.”
The 2027 general elections are scheduled to begin with the presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
