The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has warned that delays by the National Assembly in amending the Electoral Act could disrupt INEC 2027 election preparations.
Yakubu made this known in Abuja on Thursday while receiving Barry Andrews, a Member of the European Parliament and Chief of the EU Election Observation Follow-Up Mission to Nigeria. He stressed that early passage of the reforms is critical to the commission’s planning and the smooth conduct of the 2027 polls.
“An election is a process governed by law. Many of your recommendations require a review of our electoral laws. For this reason, the commission has engaged with the National Assembly, including a retreat with the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters (Senate and House of Representatives).
“We appeal to the National Assembly for an expeditious consideration of the electoral reform proposal. An early passage of law is critical to our planning for the elections. Uncertainty over the legal framework can unsettle the work of the commission as the 2027 election draws nearer,” he cautioned.
EU Calls for Swift Action on INEC 2027 Election Preparations
Yakubu also reaffirmed Nigeria’s openness to international election observers, noting that invitations would soon be sent to the EU, Commonwealth, African Union, and ECOWAS ahead of the 2027 elections.
In its 2023 final report, the EU Election Observation Mission stated that flaws in Nigeria’s laws and electoral administration weakened transparency, limited inclusiveness, and damaged trust in INEC. The EU issued 23 recommendations to Nigerian authorities, with six top priorities, including clearer laws, transparent INEC appointments, real-time results publication, media protection, women’s inclusion, and ending impunity for electoral offences.
Amid domestic pressure for reforms, INEC also released its own post-election review report with 142 recommendations. However, most of the EU’s proposals still require legislative action.
EU Follows Up on 2023 Recommendations
Yakubu revealed that only eight of the 23 EU recommendations in 2023 were addressed to INEC — and just one was a priority. He said other reforms, including five top-priority ones, fall outside the commission’s mandate.
“Action has been taken on recommendations that required only administrative measures. Similarly, work is ongoing on cross-cutting recommendations, pending the conclusion of the National Assembly’s legal review,” Yakubu noted.
The European Union also urged the Federal Government to speed up constitutional, judicial, and legislative reforms ahead of the 2027 elections.
Barry Andrews, who led the EU Election Observation Mission in 2023, said the EU was “delighted” to return for a follow-up but warned of persistent issues.
“We recognise that there are constraints around judicial and constitutional reforms. However, these recommendations align with international standards that both the EU and Nigeria have committed to. Our role is to support democracies not only in Nigeria or Africa, but globally,” Andrews said.
Reforms Beyond INEC’s Control
Andrews acknowledged that INEC had improved in several areas but emphasized that many recommendations still require executive, legislative, and judicial action.
“So now we are following up, which is the traditional pattern for election observation, and we are happy to see progress. But much more needs to be done,” he added.
