INEC fixes Feb 20, 2027 for presidential election, plans mock poll to test technology
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 20, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and March 6, 2027, for governorship and state assembly polls, while announcing plans to conduct a mock presidential election to test its electronic transmission systems.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Friday at a news conference in Abuja, saying the mock exercise would verify the integrity of the commission’s technology, particularly the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
Addressing concerns over previous technical glitches, Amupitan said the commission is determined to thoroughly test its systems before the 2027 elections. “I am committed to even having a mock presidential election. The delicate thing about technology is if it is designed without being properly tested. We are doing everything possible to make sure that we test whatever we have,” he said, adding that the commission has no intention of abandoning electronic transmission of results.
With the formal release of the Notice of Election, the INEC chairman warned political parties to strictly adhere to statutory timelines for primaries and internal processes. “Political parties are strongly advised to strictly adhere to the timelines. The Commission will not hesitate to enforce compliance with the law. I call on political parties to conduct peaceful and credible primaries, to shun violence and inflammatory rhetoric, and to uphold internal democracy,” he cautioned.
Amupitan dismissed reports that the commission would spend N1 trillion on the elections, noting that inflation, foreign exchange fluctuations, and the training of nearly 450,000 ad-hoc staff significantly impact costs. He also debunked claims that INEC intended to build hospitals. “We never said we want to build hospitals. We have clinics, and the drugs in our budget are meant for those clinics,” he clarified.
The chairman explained that the election dates comply with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022, which require the Notice of Election to be published at least 360 days before the polls. He added that states such as Anambra, Bayelsa, and Edo will remain on off-cycle schedules due to court-altered tenures, in line with constitutional provisions.
As preparations begin, INEC called on security agencies, the media, civil society, and other stakeholders to treat the 2027 elections as a collective national responsibility.
