The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sought stronger collaboration with the United Kingdom on election technology, cybersecurity, voter education and election security as it intensifies preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made the appeal on Wednesday while receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan described the United Kingdom as one of Nigeria’s longstanding democratic partners, noting that the relationship had grown beyond election observation and technical support to broader institutional cooperation aimed at strengthening democratic governance.
He said the commission had made significant progress in preparations for the 2027 polls despite the compressed electoral timetable, citing improvements in electoral technology, enhanced cybersecurity systems and ongoing voter registration.
The INEC chairman disclosed that the commission recently extended the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by two weeks to enable more eligible Nigerians to register before the statutory deadline.
According to him, the extension was necessary to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised while allowing the commission sufficient time to compile and publish the voters’ register in line with the Electoral Act.
“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.
Amupitan also highlighted new digital innovations introduced by the commission, including an online pre-registration platform that enables prospective voters to initiate registration electronically before completing the process physically at designated centres.
He said INEC had upgraded its voter accreditation and result management systems while carrying out extensive cybersecurity measures, including penetration testing, disaster recovery planning and software resilience assessments to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
On election security, the INEC chairman said the commission was working closely with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to ensure the safety of electoral personnel, infrastructure and voters during elections.
He added that the commission was sustaining regular engagements with political parties, civil society organisations and the media to promote peaceful, transparent and credible elections.
Amupitan identified election technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, combating misinformation and disinformation, crisis communication, conflict prevention, civic education and the inclusion of women, youths and persons with disabilities as priority areas for expanded cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
He also expressed the commission’s interest in knowledge-sharing initiatives and specialised capacity-building programmes for election officials.
“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,” he said.
Earlier, British High Commissioner Dr. Richard Montgomery reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic institutions, describing the relationship between both countries as a strategic partnership built on shared democratic values.
He said the visit was part of ongoing engagements with INEC to better understand the commission’s preparations for forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections and the 2027 general elections.
“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,” Montgomery said.
The envoy noted that bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom had expanded in recent years through increased collaboration in trade, security, governance, justice and migration.
Montgomery, who is expected to conclude his diplomatic assignment in Nigeria in about six weeks, expressed confidence that his successor would sustain the existing partnership with INEC as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
The meeting underscored the growing emphasis on international cooperation in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system, particularly in the areas of technology, security and institutional capacity, ahead of what is expected to be one of the country’s most closely watched general elections.
