2027 Elections: INEC Drops Fresh Bombshell, Tables Bold Demand To Politicians

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for an urgent review of Nigeria’s electoral laws as part of preparations for credible elections in 2027.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made the appeal on Thursday while hosting a European Union Follow-up Mission delegation led by Barry Andrews. He urged the National Assembly to speed up consideration of proposed reforms to the Electoral Act, warning that legal uncertainties could hinder INEC’s work as the elections draw closer.

“Elections are processes governed by law. Many of your recommendations require a review of our electoral framework. For this reason, the Commission has engaged with the National Assembly, including a retreat with the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters,” Yakubu said.

He stressed the importance of quick legislative intervention, noting: “An early passage of reforms is critical to our planning. Uncertainty over the legal framework unsettles the work of the Commission as elections approach.”

The INEC boss commended the EU for its continued partnership and pledged to strengthen collaboration ahead of 2027. He also confirmed that invitations would soon be extended to international observers, including the EU, Commonwealth, African Union, and ECOWAS.

Meanwhile, EU Chief Observer Barry Andrews praised INEC for showing commitment to implementing recommendations from the 2023 elections. He noted that his team had spent three weeks in Nigeria assessing progress and expressed satisfaction with the reforms underway, while acknowledging that certain changes—particularly constitutional and judicial—would take more time.