The African Union (AU) has begun a pre-election assessment of Nigeria’s readiness for the 2027 General Election, with voter registration, electoral technology, logistics, funding, security and results management among the areas being scrutinised ahead of the nationwide poll.
The continental body’s Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission, led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, commenced engagements with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Tuesday to identify possible gaps and risks that could affect the electoral cycle.
Receiving the delegation, INEC Acting Chairman, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the exercise offered an opportunity to test the Commission’s preparedness and strengthen public confidence, rather than being treated as a routine diplomatic engagement.
Gumus said INEC had already stepped up its operational, technological and logistical preparations, adding that experiences from recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun states would be used to address weaknesses ahead of 2027.
She specifically sought AU support in areas including digital training for ad hoc personnel, countering election disinformation and deepfakes, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, and improving gender and broader inclusion mechanisms.
The INEC chief also delivered a strong institutional assurance, declaring that the Commission would administer the election according to the law and without favour to any political interest. She said, under the current Commission led by Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, “every administrative decision will strictly follow the law”, while technical deployments would be geared towards transparency.
For the AU mission, the assessment will go beyond INEC’s internal preparations. Mekonnen said the delegation would examine the integrity of the voters’ register, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and management of election results.
He stressed that the mission was designed as a supportive and consultative engagement, rather than an exercise aimed at finding fault with Nigeria’s electoral institutions, while promising to identify areas where additional technical assistance could strengthen preparations.
The assessment places the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral institutions under renewed continental attention as INEC works towards 2027, with the AU expected to draw a clearer picture of potential vulnerabilities while sharing regional experience that could help strengthen the election process.
