The Independent National Electoral Commission has pledged that the outcome of the 2027 general election will reflect the sovereign will of Nigerian voters, as it outlined ongoing preparations and received an African Union assessment team in Abuja.
Acting Chairman Prof. Rhoda Gumus gave the assurance on Tuesday while receiving the AU Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission at INEC headquarters. She said the commission remains committed to a transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful poll.
The AU delegation is led by Demeke Mekonnen, former deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Ethiopia. Its task is to assess Nigeria’s electoral preparedness and identify areas needing further support.
Gumus described the visit as an opportunity for peer review and institutional learning rather than a formality. She noted that INEC is already carrying out extensive operational, technological and logistical work to enable full participation by eligible voters. Lessons drawn from recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun states are informing the process, she said.
She identified specific areas where AU technical assistance would be useful: digital training for ad hoc election staff, efforts to counter election-related disinformation and deepfakes, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, and advancing inclusivity and gender-mainstreaming frameworks.
Gumus stressed that electoral integrity is a shared duty involving the commission, political parties, civil society, security agencies, the media, development partners and the electorate. She reaffirmed the commission’s independence and neutrality under the leadership of Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, stating that administrative decisions would strictly follow the law and that technological systems would be designed to promote transparency.
Mekonnen said the mission is a supportive and consultative exercise aimed at reviewing activities already under way, identifying gaps and risks, and exploring possible technical assistance. The team plans to engage INEC and other stakeholders on voter registration integrity, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management.
He underlined the continuing partnership between Nigeria and the African Union in promoting democratic governance and credible elections across the continent.
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