The European Union (EU) has warned that Nigeria is at risk of experiencing the serious shortcomings associated with the 2023 general election if crucial electoral reforms are not concluded before the 2027 polls.
At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament and former Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) for the 2023 polls, declared that Nigeria’s progress on electoral reforms has been “modest at best, dangerously close to stagnation.”
According to the EU Follow-Up Mission, out of 23 priority reforms proposed after Nigeria’s troubled 2023 elections, only one has been fully implemented.
Read Also: Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, Allegedly Strongly Considered As Next INEC Chairman
Two others are partially adopted, eight remain ongoing, and nine are untouched, a lethargy that the EU warned “threatens to derail preparations for 2027.”
Andrews cautioned:“The country’s democratic resilience depends on reforms that citizens can believe in, and while we welcome the legislative momentum seen in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the ongoing constitutional review process, time is rapidly running out.”
He added:“Unless these reforms are concluded within the next few months, there is a risk of repeating the serious shortcomings of 2023. We encourage all political actors to seize the momentum to deliver reforms that can safeguard transparency, inclusiveness and credibility in the 2027 elections.”
Andrews stressed: “Time is running out. The window is closing. Without real political will, Nigerians will face the same disputes, mistrust and chaos that plagued the last elections.”
The EU outlined six critical reforms that must be delivered well in advance of 2027:
- Transparent INEC appointments.
- Election results transparency.
- Women’s representation.
- Creation of an Independent Electoral Offences Commission to end impunity for vote-buying, violence, and intimidation.
- Passage of the 2025 Electoral Act Amendment and constitutional reforms to give INEC a stable legal framework.
- Media freedom and journalist protection.
The mission warned that “Vote buying, violence and intimidation remain unchecked,” noting that “Prosecutions are so few that they do nothing to deter criminal activity.”
On media freedoms, the EU stressed: “A free press is non-negotiable in any democracy. Journalists must be shielded, not silenced.”
Andrews further stressed that “INEC cannot operate on shifting ground… It needs a clear, stable legal framework well in advance of elections. Timing is everything.”
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to Nigeria’s democratic journey, stating: “But these are recommendations that Nigeria must own. The credibility of your democracy depends on it.”
Join Informant Online WhatsApp Channel With Link Below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2
To Publish Articles, News, Place Advert, Contact Informant Online With Email Link Below: informantonline.com.ng@gmail.com
