By Obinna Uballa
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, have renewed calls for judicial, constitutional, and legislative reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Leading an EU delegation to INEC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Mr Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament and head of the EU Mission to Nigeria’s 2023 elections, said the visit was to assess progress in implementing recommendations made after the last polls.
Andrews commended INEC for its cooperation and commitment to improving Nigeria’s democracy but stressed that key reforms requiring judicial and constitutional action remained outstanding.
“We have noted significant improvements in several areas, though challenges remain, particularly those requiring judicial and constitutional reforms which take more time,” Andrews said.
He emphasised that the EU’s recommendations were consistent with international standards, adding that election observation is part of a global effort to strengthen democracy, not just in Africa but also in Europe.
On his part, Prof. Yakubu urged the National Assembly to expedite review and passage of amendments to the Electoral Act, warning that uncertainty over the legal framework could disrupt preparations for 2027.
“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,” he said.
The INEC boss disclosed that while the EU EOM made 23 recommendations after the 2023 elections, only eight fell within INEC’s purview, with the remaining 15—including five priority recommendations—assigned to the executive, legislature, judiciary, political parties, civil society, media, and professional bodies.
Yakubu revealed that INEC’s own post-election review produced 142 recommendations, which complement observer reports, and said the commission had already taken administrative steps to address its share of the EU’s proposals while awaiting legislative backing.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to international election observation, announcing that invitations would soon be extended to the EU, Commonwealth, African Union, and ECOWAS for the 2027 polls.
Civil society organisations and political actors have also amplified calls for reforms, insisting that INEC must be granted greater independence and resources to deliver credible elections. Proposals include electronic transmission of results from polling units, financial autonomy for INEC, prosecutorial powers, an Electoral Offences Tribunal, and reforms to reduce executive influence over INEC appointments.
At a recent electoral reform summit, former minister Dr Oby Ezekwesili and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, pressed for codified use of technology in the electoral framework and direct funding for INEC.
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to make public details of the process for appointing a successor to Yakubu, whose tenure ends in November 2025, warning that transparency is vital for public trust in the commission’s independence.
