The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received a delegation from the African Union (AU) as part of the continental body’s pre-election and needs assessment mission ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The delegation, led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen, is in Nigeria from September 13 to 19, 2026, to assess the country’s electoral preparedness and identify areas where additional support may be required.
Mekonnen and members of the delegation met with INEC officials at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, where discussions focused on preparations for the forthcoming elections.
The AU mission is examining several aspects of the electoral process, including voter registration, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, security coordination, dispute resolution and results management.
Speaking during the engagement, Mekonnen said the mission was intended to assess preparations, identify potential gaps and risks, and recommend possible measures that could support the electoral process.
He also highlighted the importance of adequate preparation before election day, including the credibility of the voter register and the effective deployment of electoral personnel, technology and logistics.
INEC Outlines Preparations
The Acting Chairman of INEC, Professor Rhoda Gumus, represented the commission’s Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, during the meeting.
Gumus said the commission was undertaking extensive operational, technological and logistical preparations for the 2027 elections.
She highlighted the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and collaboration with security agencies as part of the commission’s electoral administration measures.
According to the commission, preparations are being conducted on a large scale, with the voter population approaching 100 million and more than 1.4 million personnel expected to be involved in the electoral process.
Gumus also disclosed that INEC was working with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) through the Continuous Voter Registration Portal to audit, verify and clean the voter register.
AU Mission Seeks Areas for Support
The AU delegation is also examining areas where technical assistance could strengthen Nigeria’s electoral preparations.
Among the areas identified for possible support are digital training for ad-hoc election personnel, election-monitoring systems, information and communications technology simulations, countermeasures against election-related disinformation and deepfakes, and strategic communication.
The mission is also expected to consider issues surrounding inclusion and gender mainstreaming, particularly concerning women, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and other groups that may face barriers to participation.
Gumus described the engagement as an opportunity for peer assessment, institutional learning and further strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral processes.
She said electoral integrity requires cooperation among electoral authorities, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, development partners and other stakeholders.
The AU assessment is expected to continue through September 19, with the delegation engaging relevant stakeholders as it reviews Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
