In this file photo, an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official uses a Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to check the details of a voter at a polling station in Maiduguri on February 25, 2023, during Nigeria’s presidential and general election. (Photo by Audu MARTE / AFP)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November 2026 as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The exercise is expected to test the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other electoral equipment, enabling the commission to identify and resolve potential operational challenges ahead of the elections.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Canadian High Commission to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan said the nationwide mock accreditation was one of five strategic priorities adopted by INEC ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, the other priorities include strengthening electoral technology, improving inclusion in the electoral process, building institutional capacity and tackling misinformation.
The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission would require approximately 1.4 million ad hoc personnel to conduct the 2027 elections across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.
The planned mock exercise is expected to provide an opportunity for INEC to assess its preparedness, test electoral technologies and address identified gaps before the 2027 polls.
