Janet Samuel
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to the National Assembly to fast-track consideration of electoral reform proposals, stressing that delays in the legal framework could affect preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the call in Abuja during an interactive session with the European Union Election Observation Follow-up Mission, led by Chief Observer Barry Andrews.
He explained that while the Commission has implemented recommendations within its administrative powers, broader reforms require action from lawmakers. “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 election draws nearer,” Yakubu said.
He recalled that the EU’s 2023 observation report made 23 recommendations, eight of which were directed at INEC, while the Commission’s internal review produced 142 proposals. These, he said, are being used to engage political parties, civil society, security agencies, and the legislature ahead of 2027. Yakubu also announced that invitations will soon be extended to the EU, Commonwealth, African Union, and ECOWAS to observe the next general elections.
In his remarks, EU Chief Observer Barry Andrews, who also serves as a Member of the European Parliament, described it as an honour to be back in Nigeria after leading the EU’s 2023 election mission , one of the largest ever deployed by the Union., noting that his team has been in the country for three weeks and would remain for another week to assess progress on the mission’s recommendations.
Andrews commended INEC for its cooperation and acknowledged significant strides since 2023, while stressing that some reforms, particularly judicial, administrative, and constitutional changes, will take more time. “We are making these recommendations against international standards that Nigeria and most countries have signed up to. Election observation is part of a global effort to strengthen democracy, not just in Africa but across the world and in Europe as well,” he stated.
The EU Chief Observer also highlighted the importance of transparency in the collation and publication of results, and expressed interest in learning from the off-cycle governorship elections conducted since 2023, underlining Nigeria’s role in global democracy, noting that the EU has welcomed Nigerian observers to elections in Europe. “We are here in that same spirit of cooperation,” Andrews affirmed.
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