Nigeria’s fragile democracy may once again be tested in 2027, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) have jointly raised the alarm over stalled electoral reforms, warning that time is fast running out to address long-standing institutional weaknesses.
At a high-level session in Abuja on Thursday, INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, stated that the commission cannot effectively plan for the 2027 general elections without clarity on the legal framework.
He urged the National Assembly to expedite the review and passage of amendments to the Electoral Act and the Constitution, warning that the current uncertainty could jeopardise Nigeria’s preparations.
“Elections are governed by law,” Yakubu declared. “Many of your recommendations require amendments to the Electoral Act or the Constitution. Without clarity on the legal framework, we cannot finalise regulations, guidelines, or training manuals for election officials. As elections draw nearer, such uncertainty can unsettle the work of the commission.”
Yakubu revealed that out of the 23 recommendations made by the EU after the 2023 elections, eight (34.8 per cent) were directed at INEC, while the remaining 15 (65.2 per cent) required action from other arms of government and stakeholders.
He noted that INEC has already acted on all recommendations within its control, including administrative measures, and has submitted 142 reform proposals for legislative consideration.
The commission has also held several engagements with lawmakers, including a retreat with the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters earlier this year.
“We have carefully considered all eight recommendations specifically addressed to us in your report,” Yakubu explained. “Action has been taken on aspects that require only administrative steps.
“Similarly, work is ongoing on cross-cutting recommendations that need collective action between INEC and other stakeholders, while we wait for the National Assembly to complete the ongoing legal review.”
Comparing past cycles, Yakubu recalled that the EU EOM made 30 recommendations after the 2019 elections, 11 of which were targeted at INEC.
By contrast, in 2023, the recommendations dropped to 23, of which only one was listed as a priority for INEC, while five were priority reforms requiring legislative and institutional action.
*EU pushes for transparency in result publication
Leading the EU team, Chief Observer Barry Andrews, a Member of the European Parliament, commended INEC’s willingness to implement reforms but warned that judicial, constitutional, and administrative bottlenecks still undermine progress.
“Election observation is not about interference; it is about strengthening democracy in Nigeria, in Africa, and across the world,” Andrews said.
“We are keen to hear what steps INEC has taken to strengthen transparency, particularly in the publication of results. Nigerians and the international community need to see elections that are credible, transparent, and inclusive.”
Andrews noted that the EU delegation, which includes Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, as well as legal and electoral experts, is in Nigeria for a week-long review of reforms since 2023.
He highlighted that while “significant progress” had been made, constitutional and judicial reforms remain “time-sensitive and unavoidable.”
The concerns come against the backdrop of lingering controversies from past elections. In 2019, the general elections were widely criticised for logistical failures, violence, and lack of transparency.
The 2023 polls, though improved in some areas, were marred by delays in result transmission, challenges with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and inconsistencies in publishing results on INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Observers noted that these lapses undermined public trust and fueled post-election litigation, many of which remain unresolved in the courts. The EU Mission’s 2023 report had flagged the lack of transparency in result collation as a “systemic weakness” that could threaten Nigeria’s democratic credibility if left unaddressed.
Both INEC and the EU delegation agreed on one urgent reality: unless Nigeria’s lawmakers act decisively, the country risks heading into the 2027 polls with the same institutional and legal flaws that have dogged past elections.
“We recognise there are time constraints, both in terms of judicial reform as well as administrative reform. Of course, constitutional reform is even more difficult, but necessary,” Andrews noted. “We are making these recommendations against international standards that Nigeria itself has signed up to.”
For INEC, Yakubu made it clear that delay could be costly. “Uncertainty over the legal framework for elections can unsettle our work as the election draws nearer. We cannot afford to repeat past mistakes.”
With just under two years until the 2027 general elections, the warning signs are clear: Nigeria’s democratic credibility hangs on the ability of its institutions to act, and to act swiftly.
