By Stella Odueme
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the African Union (AU) Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission have commenced high-level consultations in Abuja as part of efforts to strengthen preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections.
The engagement, held at the Commission’s Headquarters on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, focused on assessing Nigeria’s electoral preparedness, identifying potential challenges and exploring areas of technical and institutional support ahead of the polls.
The AU delegation was led by His Excellency Demeke Mekonnen, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Mekonnen’s visit, according to the Commission, is aimed at assessing the country’s overall readiness for the elections and identifying areas requiring further support and intervention.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of INEC, the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, welcomed the mission and described the engagement as an opportunity for peer assessment, institutional learning and the strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral processes.
Gumus said INEC valued its partnership with the African Union in promoting democratic standards and credible electoral governance across the continent.
She explained that the pre-election assessment should not be treated as a routine exercise, but as an important mechanism for building institutional resilience and strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.
The Acting Chairman reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful elections that would reflect the will of the Nigerian electorate.
She said the Commission had commenced extensive operational, technological and logistical preparations to ensure that all eligible Nigerians could participate effectively in the 2027 polls.
According to her, experiences from recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun states would continue to guide the Commission’s preparations and improve its electoral processes.
The Acting Chairman highlighted several areas in which technical and institutional assistance from the African Union would be valuable.
These include digital training for ad hoc election personnel, combating election-related disinformation and deepfakes, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, and advancing inclusivity and gender-mainstreaming frameworks.
She also stressed the importance of collaboration among electoral institutions, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, development partners and the electorate in safeguarding electoral integrity.
Gumus reaffirmed the Commission’s independence, neutrality and professional commitment to its constitutional responsibilities.
The Commission further disclosed that she assured the delegation that under the leadership of the current Commission, led by Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, all administrative decisions would be guided by the law, while technical deployments would promote transparency.
She added that the outcome of the 2027 General Election would reflect the sovereign will of the Nigerian electorate.
Speaking on the purpose of the visit, Mekonnen said the mission was designed as a supportive and consultative engagement rather than an exercise in formal assessment alone.
He explained that the AU team would examine activities already underway, identify existing gaps and risks, and explore possible areas of technical assistance to support Nigeria’s electoral preparations.
According to him, the mission would engage with INEC and other relevant stakeholders to review the country’s readiness in several key areas.
These include voter registration and voters’ register integrity, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management.
Mekonnen underscored the importance of the continued partnership between Nigeria and the African Union in promoting democratic governance across the continent.
The consultations are expected to strengthen cooperation between INEC and the AU while supporting efforts to ensure that the 2027 General Elections are conducted in a transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful manner.