Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the perceived lack of commitment by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku made the remarks during a meeting with a high-powered delegation from the European Union (EU), led by Barry Andrews, head of the 2023 EU election observation mission to Nigeria. The meeting aimed to follow up on recommendations made by the EU after the 2023 elections.
In a statement, Atiku said Nigerians expect INEC to collaborate with the National Assembly to urgently deliver reforms that would guarantee free, fair, and transparent elections where every vote counts. He lamented that, two years after the last general elections, there are still no clear indications that the electoral body is committed to improving the electoral process.
Atiku pledged continued support for efforts by civil society organizations, local and foreign election observation missions, including the EU-EOM, towards genuine electoral reforms.
The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, has also called on the National Assembly to expedite amendments to the electoral legal framework, warning that uncertainty over the legal framework of elections can unsettle the commission’s work.
Yakubu confirmed that INEC has reviewed eight key recommendations addressed to it in the EU mission’s report, and the commission remains committed to facilitating credible elections.
Atiku underscored the necessity of credible elections for safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy and electing leaders who will ensure national unity and economic prosperity.
This critique highlights ongoing calls for electoral reforms in Nigeria to enhance public confidence and improve the quality of the democratic process.
