The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally commenced preparations for the 2027 general elections, announcing a detailed timetable and revealing plans to conduct a “mock presidential election” to test the credibility of its electronic transmission systems.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed that Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 20, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections are scheduled for March 6, 2027.
Addressing public concerns over the performance of the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during previous elections, the Chairman said the commission is committed to strengthening its technological infrastructure ahead of 2027.
He explained that the proposed mock presidential poll would serve as a stress test to verify the reliability of electronic transmission systems and prevent any recurrence of technical setbacks.
“The delicate thing about technology is that it must be properly tested before deployment,” Amupitan said, noting that INEC remains committed to electronic transmission of results. “No matter how it ends, we already have our policies. We believe results should be transmitted.”
With the formal release of the Notice of Election, INEC also alerted political parties that the timeline for party primaries and other internal processes has officially commenced.
The Chairman urged parties to strictly adhere to statutory deadlines and conduct transparent, peaceful, and credible primaries. He warned that the commission would not hesitate to enforce compliance with the Electoral Act and other relevant laws.
“Political parties must uphold internal democracy, avoid violence and inflammatory rhetoric, and respect the established timelines,” he said.
On the rising cost of elections, Amupitan attributed budgetary pressures to the scale of operations involved, including the recruitment and training of nearly 450,000 ad-hoc staff and the need for four officials per polling unit nationwide. He cited inflation, foreign exchange fluctuations, and logistics as major cost drivers.
However, he dismissed reports suggesting that the commission plans to spend ₦1 trillion on the 2027 elections, describing such claims as inaccurate.
The INEC Chairman also refuted media reports alleging that the commission intends to build hospitals. He clarified that funds allocated for medical supplies are meant for existing INEC clinics, not for constructing new health facilities.
According to him, the election dates were selected in strict compliance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022, which require the publication of a Notice of Election at least 360 days before the polls.
While some states such as Anambra, Bayelsa, and Edo remain on off-cycle election schedules due to court-altered tenures, Amupitan noted that the commission is bound by constitutional provisions to maintain those timelines.
As preparations gather momentum, INEC called on security agencies, political parties, the media, civil society groups, and the electorate to treat the 2027 general elections as a shared national responsibility.
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