2027 Polls: INEC Fixes November For Nationwide Mock Accreditation Exercise

21st August, 2026 | News

INEC Sets November 2026 for Nationwide Mock Accreditation Ahead of 2027 Elections

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.

INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan said the exercise will test the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other electoral equipment while helping the commission identify and resolve possible operational challenges ahead of the elections.

Amupitan said the mock exercise is one of five strategic priorities for the 2027 polls. Other priorities include strengthening technology, improving electoral inclusion, building institutional capacity, providing technical support and combating misinformation to protect electoral integrity.

The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission will require about 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel to conduct the elections across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.

He cited the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election as an important benchmark, noting that 94.5% of polling units opened for accreditation and voting by 8:30 a.m., while BVAS performance and result uploads were reportedly successful.

INEC is also establishing a dedicated Artificial Intelligence unit to explore responsible applications of AI in voter registration, data management and results transmission, while developing safeguards against deepfakes and disinformation.

Amupitan reaffirmed the commission’s independence and neutrality, while the Canadian High Commission pledged continued support for Nigeria’s democratic process, including voter participation, women’s inclusion, public awareness, technical assistance and election observation.

The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.