- To ascertain readiness for deployment
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will subject all configured Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices to a six-day nationwide stress-test from October 23 to 28 ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this in Abuja during a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting to mark 100 days to the 2027 general election.
Amupitan said the exercise is part of a comprehensive quality assurance framework to evaluate the hardware, software and operational stability of the upgraded BVAS devices under simulated election conditions.
Speaking on the upgraded BVAS and ICT roadmap to ensure optimal performance across 176,846 polling units, he said the commission acquired 57,000 new BVAS units.
He said the devices have undergone extensive software hardening, battery optimisation and biometric calibration to eliminate manual manipulation and prevent accreditation bypass.
“A nationwide audit of BVAS inventory, with activation testing and GPS tracking verification, has just been concluded. State-level device configuration, with enrolment onto the SureMDM platform will soon commence,” he said.
He added: “A six-day stress-testing exercise across all configured BVAS devices has been scheduled for October 23 to October 28.
“Technical support capacity: State-level training of Registration Area Technical Support personnel (RATECHs) has been scheduled for November 2026, culminating in a strategic briefing on December 13. Local government area readiness audits will follow on January 13 and 14, 2027.”
Amupitan disclosed that automated AI auditing tools are being integrated into INEC’s results verification process under a five-pillar AI Governance Framework operating under mandatory human oversight.
“An AI Governance framework/Policy is being finalised by the Commission. In partnership with international technology leaders, we are integrating AI-driven anomaly detection tools to monitor database traffic and shield our public portals against cyber intrusions or unauthorised alterations,” he said.
He said a nationwide mock accreditation and election simulation will hold in November 2026 to further test hardware, field personnel and network protocols.
On logistics, Amupitan said INEC has reviewed its Memorandum of Understanding with transport unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.
The framework guarantees early pooling, vetting and mobilisation of over 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats to move personnel and materials.
“For difficult-to-access terrains in the Niger Delta, Lake Chad Basin, and high-altitude areas in the North-East and North-West, we have secured dedicated speedboats, 4×4 off-road vehicles, and local pack transport.
“Escort protocols and maritime safety equipment, including life jackets and waterproof material containers, are being procured,” he said.
To ensure polling units open at 7:30am nationwide, he said all non-sensitive materials are being pre-batched to LGA hubs ahead of each election.
“Sensitive materials will move from CBN vaults to LGAs 72 hours before polls, reaching all 8,838 Registration Area Centres (RACs) and Super RACs by 4:00pm on the eve of the election,” he said.
On execution of plans, Amupitan said the commission has successfully executed nine out of 14 major activities planned for the 2027 general election.
“INEC has moved decisively from planning into execution. Our materials are in production, technology is undergoing rigorous quality assurance, our register is finalised for public display, and our workforce is being systematically trained.
“As we begin this 100-day sprint to the 2027 General Election, we reassure the nation and the international community of our total commitment to neutrality, operational excellence, and the sacred integrity of the ballot box,” he said.
-NAN