2027: EU Emphasises Timely Constitutional, Electoral Reforms For Credible, Acceptable General Elections

The European Union Electoral Observer Mission has stated that the conduct of credible and acceptable general elections in 2027 will depend on timely constitutional and electoral reforms.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the EU team, currently in Nigeria on a follow-up mission, emphasised that timely reforms to the constitution and electoral law are essential to ensure voter confidence in the country’s electoral process.

Barry Andrews, head of the follow-up EU Electoral Observer Mission (EFM), stressed the need for the country to expedite these reforms, noting that only one of the 23 recommendations made to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been fully implemented.

The EFM’s assessment revealed that two recommendations have been partially implemented, eight are ongoing, three are too early to determine, and nine remain unimplemented.

While commending the legislature for the amendments made thus far to the Electoral Act 2025 and the ongoing constitutional review process, Andrews pointed out that time is running out. He emphasised that Nigeria’s democratic resilience hinges on reforms that citizens can trust.

Andrews stated: “The electoral observation mission’s final report in 2023 contained 23 recommendations, of which 11 require legal changes and 12 are administrative in nature. Our assessment indicates that one recommendation has been fully implemented, two have been partially implemented, eight are ongoing, nine are not yet implemented, and in three cases, it is too early to determine.”

Andrews also called for the political will to implement all the recommendations to prevent the country from falling behind.

“Our evaluation indicates that progress in implementing the recommendations has been modest thus far and is in serious danger of falling to critically low levels. Avoiding this outcome will require both political will from legislators and urgent, coordinated administrative actions by relevant institutions. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the majority of these recommendations are still classified as ongoing.”

“What we find especially important is the strong alignment we see between the recommendations of INEC, civil society (through the citizens’ memorandum), and the EU election observers. Each of these three processes was conducted independently, yet they point in the same direction. While there are some differences, the convergence is striking.

“All three call for greater transparency, stronger accountability for electoral offenses, inclusive representation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and reforms that would give INEC the clarity and independence it needs. This is a powerful signal because it shows that Nigerians themselves, in institutions and in civil society, are calling for the same changes that international observers have highlighted. It demonstrates a broad and shared understanding of what needs to be done to strengthen future elections.”

He stressed: “What is now needed is the political will to act on this consensus so that these reforms can be adopted in good time and fully implemented. Since the 2023 elections, important work has been undertaken. As you know, the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025 and the constitutional review are ongoing, and both incorporate many of our recommendations.

“However, it is clear that the clock is ticking. A particularly positive development has been the constructive cooperation between civil society and the legislature. Civil society organizations have contributed expertise and advocacy, and Parliament has created space for that consultation and engagement.

“We are encouraged by this constructive cooperation between civil society and members of the legislature, particularly in shaping proposals for a stronger legal framework. However, while we welcome this legislative momentum, time is rapidly running out. Unless these reforms are fast-tracked and concluded soon, there is a real risk of repeating the serious shortcomings of 2023.

“Political will, more than technical drafting, will determine whether these reforms succeed. We cannot emphasize enough that the country’s democratic strength depends on reforms that citizens can believe in, and we encourage all political actors to seize the current momentum to deliver reforms that can safeguard transparency, inclusiveness, and credibility in the 2027 elections.”

He listed the six priority recommendations to include: “The first priority concerns INEC. Public confidence in the Commission has remained low.

“A new chairperson will be appointed later this year, and the way this appointment is handled will shape public perception of the institution at a critical time. A transparent, non-partisan, and merit-based appointment process will strengthen INEC as an institution and give citizens greater confidence that the Commission will improve its professionalism, neutrality, and independence. This moment offers a real opportunity to send a powerful signal of commitment to a credible electoral process.

“I would like to stress that this recommendation does not require a legal amendment. Therefore, the process of appointing the new INEC chairperson could be made more inclusive and transparent by, for example, publishing the names of prospective candidates and inviting civil society organizations, professional bodies, and opposition to provide input. In this way, all electoral stakeholders could be involved. The second priority is transparency in the results process.

“We all saw in 2023 how quickly confidence can be eroded when polling unit results are missing, uploaded with poor quality, or collation appears disorganized. These deficiencies created doubts that overshadowed the entire process. The 2025 Electoral Act Bill now introduces mandatory electronic transmission of results, alongside manual transmission. This is welcome legal clarity and an important step forward, but legislation alone is not enough. Citizens need to see the results themselves.

That means the real-time publication of polling unit and collation center results. Citizens must be able to compare both paper protocols and electronic records to follow and verify the process step by step. Such openness can rebuild confidence.

“It can also send a very powerful signal of commitment to credible elections in the future. The third priority is ensuring that women are better represented in elected institutions. At present, unfortunately, Nigeria is one of the countries with the lowest levels of women’s representation in the world, just over 4% in the National Assembly, which is not reflective of the strength, ability, and leadership that Nigerian women offer in public life.

“We, therefore, welcome the reserved seats bill and the current public debate. If passed, it would represent a significant step forward toward a more inclusive political process, ensuring that decision-making bodies better reflect the country’s diversity. International experience shows that when women are present in greater numbers, democratic institutions benefit from broader perspectives, stronger accountability, and more responsive policymaking.

“We hope this debate will move forward constructively and that progress will be made on this important issue. Our fourth priority is accountability for electoral offences. Stakeholders across the spectrum told us that impunity for offenses remains widespread. Violence, intimidation, vote buying, and misuse of state resources are problems that have persisted for too long. Some steps have been taken. INEC has entered into cooperation agreements with the Nigeria Bar Association and anti-corruption agencies. These are welcome, but they are not enough.

“Prosecutions remain very low, and justice delayed is justice denied. Establishing an independent electoral offences commission, as envisaged in some of the constitutional proposals, would be a major step forward and a clear signal that those who break the law cannot act with impunity, and that elections are not a contest without rules but a contest governed by law. Even if such a commission is not established, closer cooperation between INEC, EFCC, the police, and the judiciary would go a long way to addressing impunity.

“The fifth priority is to remove ambiguities and inconsistencies in the legal framework. The constitutional review and the electoral bill will address many of these issues. Once again, we have seen constructive cooperation between Parliament and civil society, but timing is everything. INEC cannot operate on shifting ground.

It needs a clear and stable legal framework well in advance of the elections, not only to draft its own regulations but also to plan voter education and secure the necessary budget, which must be requested a year in advance.

“If reforms are adopted too late, they risk causing uncertainty or even becoming impossible to implement. Completing this work soon would give INEC the clarity it needs and give all stakeholders the confidence to prepare properly for 2027. Finally, our sixth priority is safeguarding freedom of expression and protecting the media.

“Journalists are essential to any democracy. They inform voters, hold institutions accountable, and keep public debate alive. Yet, we continue to hear troubling reports of harassment, threats, and even violence against media practitioners and journalists. Despite a federal court ruling recognizing the state’s duty to act, no comprehensive framework to protect media professionals has yet been created.

“What is needed is a credible system to investigate and prosecute attacks swiftly and effectively. That would show that freedom of expression is not only guaranteed on paper but also upheld in practice. Without a free and safe media, citizens cannot make informed choices, and democracy itself is weakened. Protecting journalists is, therefore, not just about individual rights but safeguarding the health of Nigeria’s democracy.”

The Chief of Mission underlined two key issues for restoring confidence in the electoral process:

“Public confidence in INEC remains low, despite efforts made and progress achieved. In this context, a merit-based and non-partisan appointment process of its new Chairperson would send a powerful signal of commitment to credible elections. Another important step in this direction would be a robust system for real-time publication of polling unit and collation results, allowing citizens to verify both paper and electronic records.”