The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has said the Commission is actively engaging with the National Assembly to accelerate the passage of key electoral reforms ahead of future elections.
Speaking in Abuja while receiving a European Union Election Observation Follow-Up Mission at the Commission’s headquarters, Professor Yakubu said the engagements included a recent retreat with the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters.
He stressed that the timely conclusion of legislative reforms is critical, as INEC cannot finalize election guidelines or begin training officials without a clear legal framework.
The EU delegation’s visit is part of efforts to monitor the implementation of recommendations from the 2023 general election.
Professor Yakubu noted that the EU Election Observation Mission made 830 recommendations, with only 4.8 percent requiring direct action from INEC. The rest, he said, fall under the responsibilities of other stakeholders.
The INEC Chairman said the Commission has reviewed the recommendations and categorized them into administrative actions, stakeholder collaboration, and legislative measures.
He added that inputs from other national and international observer groups were also considered, resulting in a consolidated report containing over 140 proposals for electoral reform.
Professor Yakubu reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to transparency and continuous improvement of the electoral process. He said the Commission looks forward to welcoming international observers, including the EU, African Union, and Commonwealth, during the 2027 general elections.
In his earlier remarks, the Leader of the EU delegation, Barrett Andrews said the Union has seen real progress since their last mission in 2023, especially in judicial, administrative, and constitutional reforms, adding that, Nigeria is making efforts to act on the recommendations they previously shared.
