The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has appealed to the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of amendments to Nigeria’s electoral law to enable early preparations for the next general election.
Yakubu made the call on Thursday in Abuja during a meeting with the European Union (EU) Election Observation Follow-up Mission to Nigeria, led by Barry Andrews, head of the EU team during the 2023 general election.
He stressed that delays in passing the amended framework could create uncertainty and disrupt the commission’s preparations.
“Uncertainty over the legal framework for the election can unsettle the work of the commission as the election draws nearer,” he warned.
The INEC Chairman explained that the commission had carefully reviewed the EU Election Observation Mission’s report on the 2023 polls, which contained 23 recommendations. Of these, eight were directed to INEC, with one identified as a priority, while the remaining 15, including five key priorities, require action from other stakeholders such as the executive, legislature, judiciary, political parties and civil society.
Yakubu noted that INEC had already taken administrative steps to implement recommendations within its control, while also collaborating with other bodies on reforms requiring joint action.
He added that the commission is awaiting the outcome of the National Assembly’s review of those requiring legislative intervention.
He recalled that in 2019, the EU mission made 30 recommendations, 11 of which were addressed to INEC, three of them designated as priorities.
In comparison, the 2023 report showed a shift, with 65 percent of recommendations directed at actors outside the commission.
Yakubu also emphasized that election observer reports, both national and international, formed part of INEC’s post-election review exercise, which generated 142 reform proposals.
“An election is a process governed by law. Many of your recommendations require a review of our electoral legal framework,” he said, adding that INEC had participated in retreats and consultations with the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Electoral Matters.
Responding, Andrews said the EU mission’s visit was to evaluate progress in implementing its recommendations.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s steps toward reform and highlighted the challenges of judicial, administrative, and constitutional changes.
“What we are here to do is to review the recommendations that came from the overall mission and were included in the final report published in 2023,” Andrews said.
He expressed optimism that the progress made so far would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
The EU delegation particularly commended improvements in transparency, especially in publishing election results from off-cycle governorship polls conducted after the 2023 elections.
