The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is still waiting for the full release of a major part of its proposed budget for the 2027 general election.
Despite the delay, the Commission is moving ahead with plans for a mock presidential election to test the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) under conditions similar to election day.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Wednesday at the 13th Annual International Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) in Abuja. He was represented by National Commissioner Sani Adam, SAN.
Amupitan said the proposed budget includes major funding for technology, election operations and replacement accreditation devices lost or damaged during the last election.
He said INEC’s ICT team has started discussions with manufacturers, while plans for a technology audit and mock election continue as the budget process is finalised.
The Commission is also reviewing its electoral technology systems, including system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery plans.
Amupitan warned that AI-driven disinformation remains a major threat to the credibility of the 2027 election. He said generative AI has made fake videos, audio and images cheaper and harder to detect.
He outlined five measures: combining technology and communication planning, rapid responses to false claims, early public communication, stronger partnerships with media and technology groups, and continued investment in media literacy.
He said INEC would fight disinformation with faster, better information, rather than restrict legitimate journalism or civic dissent.
