By Tracy Moses
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has identified stronger institutional capacity, improved electoral technology and deeper stakeholder collaboration as key priorities in its preparations for the 2027 General Election.
The Commission also sought technical and institutional support from the African Union (AU) to strengthen the electoral process ahead of the poll.
INEC stated this on Tuesday in Abuja when the AU Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission, led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen, commenced engagements with the Commission on Nigeria’s electoral preparedness.
Receiving the delegation at the INEC headquarters, the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, described the mission as an opportunity for peer assessment, institutional learning and the strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral processes ahead of the 2027 election.
Gumus said the engagement with the AU should not be treated as a mere formality but as an important mechanism for building institutional resilience and strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.
She said preparations for the 2027 election were already underway in operational, technological and logistical areas, with the Commission focused on creating the conditions for effective participation by all eligible Nigerians.
According to her, lessons from recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun states would continue to guide INEC’s efforts to review and strengthen its electoral processes.
She identified areas where AU technical and institutional support could add value, including digital training for ad hoc election personnel, combating election-related disinformation and deepfakes, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, as well as deepening inclusivity and gender-mainstreaming frameworks.
Gumus also stressed that responsibility for electoral integrity extended beyond INEC, noting that political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, development partners and voters all had important roles to play.
She reaffirmed INEC’s independence and neutrality, assuring that the Commission would continue to discharge its responsibilities within the framework of the law.
Gumus further assured that under the current Commission led by Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, “every administrative decision 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 mission, Mekonnen said the AU delegation was in Nigeria for a supportive and consultative engagement aimed at assessing preparations already underway, identifying gaps and risks, and exploring areas for possible technical assistance.
He said the mission would engage with INEC and other relevant stakeholders on critical aspects of the electoral cycle, including voter registration and the integrity of the voters’ register, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management.
Mekonnen underscored the importance of the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and the African Union in strengthening democratic governance and electoral institutions across the continent.
The AU engagement comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections, with technology, voter participation, institutional capacity, security, transparency and inclusion expected to remain central to efforts to strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The assessment is expected to provide the AU with a clearer understanding of Nigeria’s electoral needs while giving INEC an opportunity to draw on regional experience and expertise as preparations for the nationwide poll progress.