The European Union has warned that Nigeria risks repeating the mistakes of the 2023 general elections unless it moves quickly to implement long-awaited electoral reforms.
Barry Andrews, who led the EU Election Observation Follow-up Mission, delivered the warning in Abuja on Friday. He said that of the 23 recommendations the EU made after the last elections, only one has been fully put in place, while most remain unaddressed or stuck in progress.
“Our assessment shows that progress so far is very limited, and unless urgent steps are taken, confidence in the system could fall even further,” Andrews stated.
Among the EU’s top priorities are: a transparent and merit-based process for selecting the next INEC chairman, stronger safeguards in election results management, action against vote-buying and electoral violence, and increased female representation in governance.
He also expressed concern over attacks on journalists and called for a credible framework to hold offenders accountable.
Andrews welcomed ongoing talks on amendments to the Electoral Act and constitutional reforms but cautioned that delays could make implementation impossible before the next general election.
Despite the slow pace, the EU official said he was encouraged by the alignment between INEC, civil society, and international observers on what needs to be done.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, also confirmed that only a handful of the EU’s recommendations directly apply to the commission, warning that late changes to the law could disrupt the commission’s preparations for 2027.
Andrews urged Nigerian political leaders to act decisively, stressing that the credibility and inclusiveness of the 2027 elections depend on reforms being delivered without delay.
