By Oluchi Jacinta Okorie, Abuja
INEC assures AU delegation of credible 2027 elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has restated its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and peaceful 2027 general election.
The commission gave the assurance while hosting the African Union Election Monitoring Delegation in Abuja as part of preparations for the elections.
The AU delegation, led by former Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, is in Nigeria to assess the level of preparedness for the forthcoming polls.
The delegation raised questions around key areas including security, logistics, results management and the deployment of technology.
It also sought clarification from INEC on lessons learned from previous elections and how those experiences are shaping preparations for 2027.
The delegation emphasised the importance of effective logistics and operational planning in managing elections in a country as large and diverse as Nigeria.
Representing the INEC Chairman at the meeting, National Commissioner Professor Rhoda Gumus said the commission was leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the electoral process complies with the law.
Gumus described electoral integrity as a multi-stakeholder responsibility, stressing the importance of international technical support in addressing operational challenges.
She assured the AU delegation that administrative and technical processes were being handled in accordance with legal requirements and transparency principles.
According to her, the outcome of the 2027 general election will reflect the will of Nigerian voters.
The meeting comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to commence on January 16, 2027.
The electoral commission is expected to receive additional observer missions as preparations for the elections gather momentum.
The AU engagement is part of the broader pre-election assessment process aimed at examining Nigeria’s readiness and identifying areas requiring attention before the polls.
