Moses Ofodeme
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful 2027 General Election, as the African Union (AU) Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission commenced engagements with the Commission in Abuja.
The AU delegation is led by former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Demeke Mekonnen, who is in Nigeria to assess the country’s overall electoral preparedness and identify areas requiring further support and intervention.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Commission on Tuesday 15th September, 2026, at the INEC Headquarters, Abuja, the Acting Chairman of INEC, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, welcomed the mission and described it as an important opportunity for peer assessment, institutional learning and the strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral processes at a critical period in the nation’s democratic journey.
Prof. Gumus said the Commission values its partnership with the African Union in advancing democratic standards and credible electoral governance across the continent. She noted that the mission should not be viewed as a formality, but as an indispensable mechanism that strengthens institutional resilience and reinforces public confidence in the ballot box.
She highlighted the scale of preparations already underway for the 2027 General Election, stating that INEC is undertaking extensive operational, technological and logistical preparations to ensure effective participation by all eligible Nigerians. She added that lessons drawn from recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun continue to serve as valuable learning opportunities for the Commission.
The Acting Chairman also outlined specific areas where technical and institutional support from the AU would be valuable, including digital training for ad hoc election personnel, countering election-related disinformation and deepfakes, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, and deepening inclusivity and gender-mainstreaming frameworks.
She emphasised that electoral integrity remains a collective responsibility involving electoral institutions, political parties, civil society, security agencies, the media, development partners and the electorate, while reaffirming the absolute independence, neutrality and professional resolve of the Commission.
Prof. Gumus assured that under the watch of 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 visit, the Head of the AU Mission, His Excellency Demeke Mekonnen , explained that the mission is designed as a supportive and consultative engagement to assess activities already on track, identify existing gaps and risks, and explore possible areas of technical assistance.
He noted that the mission will engage widely with INEC and other key stakeholders to examine preparedness in voter registration and register integrity, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management. He underscored the continued partnership between Nigeria and the African Union in promoting democratic governance across the continent.