The assessment is being carried out as part of the AU’s Pre-Election and Needs Assessment Mission to Nigeria, which runs from September 13 to 19, 2026.
By Mmesoma Onwuka
365Daily – Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections have come under assessment by the African Union (AU), with the continental body examining key areas that could affect the credibility and effectiveness of the electoral process.
The assessment is being carried out as part of the AU’s Pre-Election and Needs Assessment Mission to Nigeria, which runs from September 13 to 19, 2026.
The AU delegation, headed by Demeke Mekonnen, former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia and Head of Mission, met with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during a courtesy visit.
INEC’s Acting Chairman, Professor Rhoda Gumus, received the delegation on behalf of the Commission’s Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN.
Mekonnen said the mission would examine Nigeria’s level of preparedness, identify areas requiring attention and propose possible support ahead of the 2027 polls.
He listed voter registration, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, security, electoral disputes and result management among the areas being considered by the mission.
According to him, developments before election day are critical to the credibility of the entire electoral process, particularly the quality of the voter register, transparency and public confidence.
“We want to facilitate support and identify gaps, and for possible remedies and corrections for the successful election process,” Mekonnen said.
Gumus said the engagement reflected the shared interest of INEC and the AU in promoting democratic standards and credible electoral governance.
She disclosed that preparations for the 2027 elections would involve a voter population approaching 100 million, 176,846 polling units and a workforce of more than 1.4 million personnel.
The Acting Chairman also pointed to recent off cycle elections as opportunities through which INEC had tested reforms introduced under the new electoral legal framework.
She said technologies including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IReV result viewing portal remained part of the Commission’s electoral administration efforts, alongside coordination with security agencies.
On the voter’s register, Gumus said INEC was collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) through the Continuous Voter Registration Portal to audit, verify and clean the register.
She acknowledged that the scale and geographical complexity of Nigeria’s elections continued to pose technological, logistical and political challenges.
Gumus subsequently identified areas where AU assistance could strengthen INEC’s preparations. They include digital training for ad hoc personnel, e-learning tools, ICT simulations, election monitoring systems, measures against disinformation, AI based deepfake detection and strategic communication.
She also sought support for stronger inclusion and gender mainstreaming measures covering persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, women and other groups that remain underrepresented in the electoral process.
The Acting Chairman assured the AU delegation that INEC would cooperate with stakeholders throughout the mission, including political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, media executives and development partners.
She maintained that the Commission would uphold independence, neutrality and professionalism, with its administrative decisions guided by the law.
Gumus further said INEC remained committed to ensuring that the 2027 general election reflects the sovereign choice of Nigerian voters.What is condition for defense