INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the proposals during a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, at the commission's headquarters in Abuja.
According to the commission, the planned initiatives are aimed at assessing the efficiency and reliability of its electoral systems before Nigerians head to the polls in 2027.
The commission said the proposals were informed by lessons from the 2023 general election, particularly concerns surrounding the performance of election technology.
If approved, the technology audit would examine INEC's digital infrastructure, while the mock presidential election would serve as a practical test of the commission's operational readiness.
Amupitan explained that although the proposed exercises were not included in the commission's original budget, INEC would explore options for implementing them because of their importance to the credibility of future elections.
He added that the commission is also strengthening its technological framework through improvements in the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and its cybersecurity architecture.
According to him, the ongoing review covers system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery measures designed to enhance the integrity of the electoral process.
Speaking during the visit, the British High Commissioner said the United Kingdom has continued to monitor INEC's preparations for the 2027 general election, including recent off-cycle elections and plans for the forthcoming Osun State governorship poll.
Montgomery, who is expected to conclude his diplomatic assignment in Nigeria within the next few weeks, reaffirmed the UK's commitment to supporting Nigeria's electoral process and expressed confidence that the partnership with INEC would continue under his successor.
The commission maintained that the proposed reforms are part of broader efforts to strengthen public confidence in Nigeria's electoral system and ensure more credible elections in 2027.
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