The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled fresh safeguards for the 2027 general elections, promising that only verified polling-unit results will be uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, announced the measures at Chatham House in London on Thursday, insisting that the commission had learnt lessons from the controversies surrounding the 2023 elections.
He said the commission would introduce additional checks to ensure that polling-unit results were verified in the presence of party agents before electronic transmission.
“If the result is not accurate at the polling unit, it will not even go to the IReV,” Amupitan said, adding that Nigerians should be able to trust every result uploaded to the portal.
But beyond result management, the INEC chairman disclosed that security intelligence had uncovered a plot by bandits to attack election ad hoc staff, particularly National Youth Service Corps members, to disrupt the 2027 polls.
He said the suspects had been arrested and were facing prosecution at the Federal High Court by the Department of State Services.
Amupitan said INEC was working with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to prevent attacks on election workers and voters.
The commission is also deploying its Election Risk Management tool to identify flashpoints and guide security arrangements ahead of the elections.
On technology, Amupitan said INEC had opted to upgrade its existing electoral system rather than introduce an entirely new platform, citing the limited time available before the 2027 elections.
He disclosed that the commission was improving the storage conditions of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and increasing their numbers to reduce accreditation delays.
Under the revised arrangement, the number of voters assigned to each BVAS device will drop from 1,250 to 850. Polling units with more than 850 registered voters will receive additional machines.
Amupitan also announced a nationwide mock accreditation and voting exercise for November 28 to test the commission’s equipment, procedures and electronic result transmission ahead of the presidential election.
On the question of neutrality, the INEC chairman rejected allegations linking him to a controversial X account, insisting that he had never operated the account. He said the matter had been reported to the DSS and the Inspector-General of Police.
He also dismissed concerns arising from his previous legal engagements in a political dispute, declaring that his loyalty was to the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
“My loyalty is to the Constitution of Nigeria, to the Electoral Act,” he said.
The chairman further disclosed that INEC had received a substantial portion of its funding for the 2027 elections but was still awaiting the outstanding balance.
He said the Federal Government had assured the commission that the remaining funds would be released before the end of November, adding that part of the money was required to pay election ad hoc personnel.
Amupitan also promised to examine complaints about alleged irregularities in the voter register, including claims of an unusual increase in registered voters in a ward in Ebonyi State.
He urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing it, warning that misinformation could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The INEC chairman appealed to Nigerians, particularly young people, to remain engaged in the democratic process and give the country’s electoral institutions an opportunity to deliver credible elections.