Details Emerge Following INEC’s Meeting With AU Delegation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given fresh details on its preparations for the 2027 general elections following a meeting with a delegation from the African Union (AU) in Abuja.

The commission said it remains committed to conducting elections that are transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful.

Politics Nigeria gathered that this position was made known on Tuesday, September 15, when the AU Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission visited INEC headquarters as part of its assessment of Nigeria’s readiness for the 2027 polls.

The delegation was led by Demeke Mekonnen, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.

The team is in Nigeria between September 13 and 19 as part of its engagement with electoral and other relevant institutions ahead of the elections.

Receiving the delegation, INEC Acting Chairman, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the visit was coming at an important stage in the country’s preparations for the next general election.

Gumus, who represented INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, said the engagement with the AU offered an opportunity for the commission to examine its preparations with an external partner while identifying areas where additional support could be useful.

She described the mission as an opportunity for peer assessment, institutional learning and further strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral processes.

According to her, the engagement should go beyond a routine diplomatic visit because of the importance of identifying weaknesses before election day.

Gumus said, “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 said INEC had already commenced extensive preparations covering operations, technology and logistics.

Gumus disclosed that preparations were being made for a voter population that is approaching the 100 million mark, with voting expected to take place across 176,846 polling units.

She also said the commission was preparing to deploy more than 1.4 million ad hoc personnel for the elections.

“We are preparing to accredit and facilitate voting for a voter population rapidly consolidating towards the 100 million mark, deployed across 176,846 polling units and supported by ad hoc staff workforce that is exceeding even 1.4 million personnel,” she said.

Beyond manpower, the commission is also looking at the use of technology, election monitoring, voter registration, logistics and the management of results.

Gumus said recent off-cycle elections had provided the commission with practical lessons that would be considered as preparations for 2027 continue.

She specifically referenced elections held in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun.

The experience from those elections, she said, would help the commission identify areas requiring improvement before the next nationwide polls.

Technology also featured prominently during the discussions.

Gumus identified digital training for ad hoc election personnel as one of the areas where the AU could provide technical assistance.

She also requested support in dealing with election-related disinformation and deepfakes, which have become a growing concern as political activities intensify.

Another area highlighted was the strengthening of the Election Monitoring and Support Centre.

The commission also wants to deepen its framework for inclusion and gender mainstreaming as part of efforts to ensure that different groups are adequately represented in the electoral process.

The issue of electoral integrity was equally central to the engagement.

Gumus maintained that the responsibility for a credible election does not rest on INEC alone.

She listed political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, development partners and voters among the stakeholders with roles to play in protecting the electoral process.

She further reaffirmed the independence and neutrality of the electoral commission.

According to her, the commission would continue to operate within the law and would ensure that its administrative and technical decisions are directed towards protecting the integrity of the election.

Gumus assured the AU delegation that under the current leadership of the commission, every administrative decision would follow the law and that technology would be deployed to promote transparency.

She also said the outcome of the 2027 election would reflect the will of Nigerian voters.

The AU delegation, on its part, said its visit was not designed as an attempt to take over or direct the work of INEC.

Mekonnen described the mission as a supportive and consultative engagement aimed at understanding the preparations already underway and identifying possible gaps.

He said the AU wanted to assess the areas where Nigeria was prepared, identify potential risks and determine where technical assistance could strengthen the process.

The delegation is expected to engage INEC and other stakeholders during its stay in the country.

Mekonnen said the mission would examine several aspects of the electoral process, including voter registration and the integrity of the voters’ register.

Other areas include electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management.

The AU delegation also wants to understand how lessons from previous elections are being applied to the 2027 process.

Moreover, Politics Nigeria earlier reported that INEC has already published final list of candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections, with the presidential and National Assembly polls scheduled for January 16, 2027.

The governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

The commission has also been engaging political parties and other stakeholders as preparations advance.