The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday reasdured of its commitment to conducting transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful 2027 general elections.
Acting Chairman of the Commission, Prof Rhoda Gumus, stated this when a delegation of the African Union (AU) Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission visited INEC.
The AU delegation, led by former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, is in Nigeria to assess the country’s electoral preparedness and identify areas requiring further support and intervention.
Gumus welcomed the mission, describing it as an opportunity for peer assessment, institutional learning and strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral processes at a critical period in the country’s democratic journey.
She said INEC valued its partnership with the AU in promoting democratic standards and credible electoral governance across the continent.
According to her, the mission should not be regarded as a formality but as a mechanism for strengthening institutional resilience and public confidence in the electoral process.
Gumus said INEC had commenced extensive operational, technological and logistical preparations for the 2027 elections to ensure effective participation by all eligible Nigerians. NigeriaNews Subscription
She added that lessons from recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun states continued to provide valuable learning opportunities for the Commission.
The Acting Chairman identified areas where technical and institutional support from the AU would be valuable, including digital training for ad hoc election personnel, countering election-related disinformation and deepfakes, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, and improving inclusivity and gender-mainstreaming frameworks.
Gumus stressed that electoral integrity was a collective responsibility involving electoral institutions, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, development partners and voters.
She also reaffirmed INEC’s independence, neutrality and professional commitment to the electoral process.
Prof. Gumus assured that Commission will strictly follow the law, every technical deployment will serve transparency, and the final outcome of the 2027 General Election will reflect the sovereign will of the Nigerian electorate.
Speaking on the purpose of the visit, the Head of the AU delegation explained that the mission is designed as a supportive and consultative engagement to assess activities already on track, identify existing gaps and risks, and explore possible areas of technical assistance.
He said the mission will engage widely with INEC and other key stakeholders to examine preparedness in voter registration and register integrity, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management.
He underscored the continued partnership between Nigeria and the African Union in promoting democratic governance across the continent.
