The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has cautioned that delays in amending Nigeria’s electoral laws could negatively affect the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Professor Yakubu issued the warning in Abuja on Thursday when he received Barry Andrews, head of the European Union (EU) Election Observation Follow-up Mission to Nigeria.
The INEC Chairman explained that an early passage of electoral reforms by the National Assembly would provide a clear legal framework to guide the commission’s work ahead of the polls.
“Election is a process governed strictly by law. Uncertainty over the legal framework, especially as the election draws nearer, can unsettle the work of the commission,” he warned.
EU RECOMMENDATIONS UNDER REVIEW
Professor Yakubu disclosed that INEC had reviewed the eight recommendations specifically addressed to it in the EU Mission’s 2023 election report.
He said action had already been taken on aspects requiring only administrative measures, while work was ongoing on issues that demand collaboration with other institutions.
According to him, in 2019, the EU made 30 recommendations to Nigeria, with 11 directed at INEC and three listed as priorities.
In contrast, the 2023 report contained 23 recommendations, eight of which were for the commission, with just one designated as a priority.
He noted that the remaining 15 recommendations from the 2023 report, five of them marked as priorities, fall under the responsibility of the executive, legislature, judiciary, political parties, and other stakeholders.
“The commission has carefully considered all the recommendations. For those requiring legislative intervention, we await the conclusion of the ongoing legal review by the National Assembly,” Professor Yakubu said.
He further revealed that INEC’s own post-election review produced 142 recommendations for electoral reform, which have been shared with relevant institutions.
ENGAGEMENT WITH EU OBSERVERS
Professor Yakubu assured the EU delegation that INEC would continue to engage with international observers whose input, he said, had contributed significantly to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process.
“Your recommendations and those of other observer groups form part of the wide-ranging consultations we have had in our post-election review. They remain invaluable to us in our drive to improve transparency and credibility,” he added.
EU REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY
Responding, Barry Andrews, leader of the EU mission, said the visit was to assess the progress Nigeria had made in implementing reforms following the 2023 elections.
“We are happy to see significant progress against these recommendations. However, we recognise that there are certain time constraints, both in terms of judicial and administrative reforms,” he stated.