Segun Ojumu
Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is urging the nation’s parliament to expedite action on electoral law reforms, warning that legal uncertainty could “unsettle” preparations for the 2027 General Election. The appeal was made on Thursday by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during a meeting in Abuja with a European Union (EU) Election Observation Follow-up Mission, led by Member of European Parliament Barry Andrews. Professor Yakubu emphasised that many of the recommendations for improving Nigeria’s election process—including those made by the EU and other observers—require legislative amendments.”An early passage of law is critical to our planning for the elections. Uncertainty over the legal framework for the election can unsettle the work of the Commission as election draws nearer,” Professor Yakubu stated.
EU Recommendations Review
The EU mission is in Nigeria to monitor progress on the recommendations it made following the 2023 General Election. This marks the third time INEC has hosted such a follow-up mission, a standard EU practice midway between national polls. The INEC Chairman confirmed that the Commission has carefully reviewed the 23 recommendations contained in the EU’s 2023 report. Eight of these were addressed specifically to INEC, with the remainder requiring action from other government branches, political parties, and civil society. Professor Yakubu noted that the Commission has already acted on recommendations that only require administrative changes. For recommendations requiring a collaborative effort, action is underway while the Commission awaits the National Assembly’s decision on proposed legislative changes. A detailed response to the EU’s direct observations was shared with the mission.
Open Invitation for 2027 Observers.
In a commitment to transparency, the INEC Chairman reaffirmed the Commission’s practice of inviting international observers, saying the feedback helps improve the “quality of our elections and electoral activities.”Professor Yakubu confirmed that invitations will soon be extended to the EU, the Commonwealth, the African Union (AU), and ECOWAS to observe the 2027 General Election.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for Professor Yakubu to acknowledge the “support of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN),” vowing to continue the partnership.The EU delegation, which includes Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Gautier Mignot, will be engaging with various stakeholders to assess the broader progress of electoral reforms in the country.
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