INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan says improved technology, mock presidential polls and stronger testing will ensure Nigeria’s “best election yet.”

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the technical failures that overshadowed the 2023 presidential election will not be repeated in 2027, pledging a more credible and transparent electoral process.

Speaking at the Citizens’ Townhall on the Electoral Act 2026, Amupitan said the commission has undertaken deliberate reforms to strengthen its technological infrastructure, particularly in the area of result transmission, ahead of the next general elections.

INEC had earlier announced that the presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.

According to the INEC boss, modern elections are increasingly driven by technology, but he stressed that robust testing is critical before deployment.

“Election anywhere in the world is now about technology, but before deploying any technology, it is important to test it thoroughly,” Amupitan said.

Reflecting on the 2023 polls, he acknowledged that while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was tested during off-season governorship elections in states like Osun and Ekiti, the presidential election posed a different challenge.

“When it came to the federal election, especially the presidential election which is inter-state, it was not properly tested,” he admitted.

To avoid a repeat, Amupitan revealed that INEC plans to conduct a mock presidential election ahead of 2027 to fully stress-test its nationwide result-transmission system.

“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 transmission across states must not fail,” he said.

Expressing confidence in the commission’s preparations, Amupitan declared that the technical glitches of 2023 had been addressed.

“The glitch is eliminated. 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 said.

He also noted that Nigerian voters are becoming more politically conscious, with a clearer understanding of the link between credible elections and national development.

“The electorate of 2027 is more aware and understands the direct correlation between elections and national development. We want a process that guarantees legitimacy and builds confidence in the system,” he added.

While conceding that no electoral process can be perfect, Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to continuous improvement and