Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over what he described as the lack of commitment by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to improving Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on his X handle on Friday, Atiku said expectations remain high that INEC will collaborate with the National Assembly to strengthen the country’s electoral laws to guarantee credible polls.
Atiku disclosed that he met with a European Union delegation led by Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament and head of the 2023 EU Election Observation Mission to Nigeria, alongside the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot. He said the meeting was a follow-up on recommendations made by the EU after the 2023 general elections.
According to him, only credible elections will safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and ensure the emergence of leaders capable of uniting the country and driving economic prosperity.
He said: “Yesterday evening, I received a high-powered European Union delegation, including the Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E Gautier Mignot.
The delegation led by Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament, who was also Head of the 2023 EU- Election Observation Mission to Nigeria, is engaging in broad-based conversation on the future of Nigerian elections.
This visit is a follow-up mission to see the level of implementation of a set of recommendations made by the team following the 2023 General elections.
Expectations are high that the Independent National Electoral Commission will urgently work with the National Assembly to give citizens election laws that guarantee transparent and credible elections, where every vote counts.
It is worrisome that two years down the line, we are yet to see indications that INEC is committed to an improved electoral process.
Meanwhile, we shall continue to support efforts by CSOs, local and foreign Election Observations Missions (EOMs), including the EU-EOM, that will lead to genuine electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 General elections.
We believe that only through credible elections shall we safeguard our democracy and recruit leaders that will ensure unity and economic prosperity of Nigeria.”
