By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for deeper collaboration with the United Kingdom in election security, technology, cybersecurity and voter education.
This is even as the Commission has intensified its preparations for the general elections which already elicited the interest of the international community because of the political climate in the West African nation.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, while receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday called for a broader collaboration between INEC and United Kingdom.
Amupitan described the UK as a longstanding partner in Nigeria’s democratic journey, saying the relationship had evolved beyond election observation and technical assistance into broader institutional support for strengthening democratic governance.
He said the Commission had made significant progress in preparing for the 2027 polls despite a compressed electoral timetable, including the rollout of enhanced technology, improved cybersecurity architecture and expanded voter registration.
According to him, INEC recently extended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by two weeks to allow more eligible Nigerians to register before the statutory deadline.
“We decided to extend the registration to ensure that those who did not have the opportunity to register are not left out. At the same time, we must comply with the legal timelines for publishing the voters’ register ahead of the elections,” he said.
The INEC boss said the Commission had introduced additional digital services that allow eligible voters to begin registration online before completing the process physically at designated centres.
He added that the commission had strengthened its technological infrastructure through upgrades to its voter accreditation and result management systems while conducting extensive cybersecurity assessments, including penetration testing, disaster recovery planning and software resilience reviews.
Amupitan also said INEC was working closely with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to protect election personnel, infrastructure and voters.
He noted that regular consultations were also being held with political parties, civil society organisations and the media to promote peaceful and credible elections.
The INEC Chairman identified key areas where Nigeria and the UK could deepen cooperation, including election technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, combating misinformation and disinformation, crisis communication, conflict prevention, civic education and the inclusion of women, youths and persons with disabilities in the electoral process.
He said the commission was also interested in knowledge exchange programmes and specialised training for election officials.
Said he: “We value our partnership with the United Kingdom and look forward to strengthening cooperation in areas such as election technology, cybersecurity, voter education and combating misinformation as we prepare for the 2027 general elections”.
Speaking earlier, the British High Commissioner reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic institutions, describing the relationship between both countries as a strategic partnership.
Montgomery said he and his team had been engaging with INEC to better understand the commission’s preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and the 2027 general elections.
Said he: “We regard ourselves as partners in Nigeria’s democratic journey. We have a strong interest in supporting the country’s democratic process and hope our engagement will be seen as a sign of both moral support and practical cooperation”.
The envoy noted that the UK and Nigeria had strengthened bilateral relations in recent years through expanded cooperation in trade, security, migration, justice and governance.
Montgomery, who disclosed that he would complete his diplomatic assignment in Nigeria in about six weeks, expressed confidence that his successor would continue building a productive relationship with INEC as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
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