The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it will conduct a Nationwide Mock Accreditation Exercise in November 2026 as part of steps to ensure its readiness for the 2027 general elections.
INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan disclosed this when he received the Chargé d’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission to Nigeria, David Sproule, and other officials of the commission on a visit to INEC’s headquarters.
Amupitan said the mock accreditation would subject the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other electoral equipment to a rigorous field test ahead of the general election as he explains that the exercise is designed to identify and address possible operational challenges before the elections, stressing that the commission is determined to build on the lessons learnt from recent off-cycle elections.
The INEC chairman explained that the commission would welcome Canada’s partnership in ensuring the success of the exercise, particularly in the areas of technology, electoral integrity, and capacity development.
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Amupitan also disclosed that INEC had established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Unit to respond to emerging technological challenges in election administration and the unit will explore the use of AI in areas including data management and voter registration, while also helping the commission confront emerging threats such as deepfakes and AI-generated disinformation.
The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, who led the delegation to INEC, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic development and the conduct of free, fair and credible elections ahead 2027 General polls.
In a related development, the INEC chairman sought stronger collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, KAS, to deepen youth and women’s participation and strengthen democratic culture ahead of the 2027 general election
Amupitan made the call when he received the Country Representative of KAS in Nigeria, Moritz Sprenker, who paid a visit to INEC.
Amupitan acknowledged KAS’s longstanding contributions to democratic development and capacity building in Nigeria and across Africa.
The Country Representative of KAS noted that the foundation had maintained a longstanding relationship with INEC and expressed readiness to explore further areas of cooperation.
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(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
