By David Lawani, Abuja
The African Union (AU) Pre-Election and Needs Assessment Mission has raised critical questions over Nigeria’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections, pressing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on operational vulnerabilities that could affect the credibility of the polls.
The delegation’s concerns covered the voters’ register, election technology, logistics, funding, security, inclusion, transparency, electoral disputes and the integrity and publication of results.
The mission, led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonen Hassen, raised the concerns on Tuesday when it visited INEC headquarters in Abuja as part of its assessment of Nigeria’s preparations for the elections.
Hassen said the mission, which is in Nigeria from September 13 to 19, was not intended to interfere in the country’s electoral process but to provide an independent peer assessment of existing preparations and identify areas requiring corrective action.
“Our task is just a supporting mission. The mission is to facilitate and to play a preventive role, to appreciate the activities on track, and again, to identify gaps, and based on that, find possible remedies and corrections for a successful election process,” he said.
The AU delegation sought clarification on whether the voters’ register had been finalised and whether it was sufficiently credible to withstand scrutiny by political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
Technology was another major area of concern, with the mission seeking detailed information on the readiness and testing of INEC’s electronic result management systems.
Hassen stressed the need for lessons from previous elections to shape the deployment of technology in 2027, particularly as electronic accreditation, voter verification and result management are expected to remain central to the polls.
“The preparations on technology applications are very important. Is the IRVV fully tested and ready? Lessons taken from the previous election, the preparations on the application of technologies may be really important,” Hassen said.
The mission also questioned INEC on the logistical challenges associated with conducting elections across Nigeria, particularly given the country’s large population and geographical spread.
“So, what are the most significant logistical challenges, and how is INEC addressing them?” Hassen asked.
Funding also came under scrutiny, with the delegation seeking assurances that INEC would have adequate and timely resources to implement its electoral timetable and deploy personnel, materials and technology nationwide.
The AU mission further questioned measures to improve the participation of women, youths and other marginalised groups, as well as mechanisms for transparency, accountability and electoral dispute resolution.
Security featured prominently in the assessment, with Hassen asking how INEC was coordinating with security agencies to guarantee a safe electoral environment without compromising the commission’s constitutional independence.
The delegation also sought assurances on the integrity, transparency and timely publication of election results under the new legal framework.
“What assurance can I provide regarding the integrity, transparency and timely publication of election results?” Hassen asked.
*Commission points to reforms tested in recent off-cycle polls
Responding on behalf of INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, National Commissioner Rhoda Gumus welcomed the AU assessment, describing it as a peer-review process capable of identifying areas requiring further strengthening before the 2027 elections.
Gumus said Nigeria and the AU shared a longstanding commitment to democratic values, credible elections and sound electoral governance.
She disclosed that the presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections would take place on February 6.
According to her, the exercise would involve a voter population approaching 100 million, 176,846 polling units and more than 1.4 million ad hoc personnel, underscoring the enormous operational demands.
Gumus said recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun had provided INEC with opportunities to test reforms introduced under the Electoral Act 2026.
She specifically cited the August 15 Osun governorship election as an important benchmark for operational preparedness, pointing to early-morning logistical opening rates of more than 94 per cent, effective deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), resolution of operational issues through the IRF portal and coordination among security agencies.
The national commissioner also disclosed that INEC was collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) through the Continuous Voter Registration portal to incorporate National Identification Numbers into efforts to verify and clean the voters’ register.
Despite the progress, Gumus acknowledged that the scale of a nationwide election continued to present technological, logistical and political challenges requiring sustained attention.
She said INEC was seeking technical support from the AU in four areas considered critical to the success of the 2027 elections.
They include digital training for more than 1.4 million ad hoc personnel, combating election-related disinformation, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, and improving inclusion and gender mainstreaming.
“We seek assistance in scaling interactive e-learning tools, digital simulation models and standardised ICT training protocols for over 1.4 million ad hoc staff to ensure uniform operational compliance across all the polling units,” she said.
Gumus said the commission would also benefit from AU support in deploying AI-driven deepfake detection mechanisms and rapid-response strategic communications to counter false information during the electoral cycle.
She requested specialised workshops to strengthen the Election Monitoring and Support Centre and technical assistance to improve electoral access for persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and other underrepresented groups.
The national commissioner assured the delegation that INEC would provide the necessary operational data and cooperate fully with the assessment.
“Our directors and technical teams stand ready to provide all necessary operational data to assist your mission in formulating an impactful assessment report,” she said.
Gumus also assured the AU that INEC would maintain its independence and neutrality throughout the electoral process.
“Under our watch, every administrative decision will strictly follow the law. Every technical deployment will serve transparency, and the outcome of the 2027 General Election will reflect nothing less than the sovereign will of the Nigerian electorate,” she said.
The AU assessment comes less than five months before the presidential and National Assembly elections and is expected to provide an external assessment of Nigeria’s electoral preparations.
The mission’s concerns highlight the scale of the challenge facing INEC, from maintaining a credible voters’ register and deploying technology across 176,846 polling units to training more than 1.4 million temporary personnel and protecting the integrity of results.
Its findings are expected to identify vulnerabilities and recommend preventive measures before Nigeria enters the final stretch of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
