EU Denies Rejecting INEC Invitation to Observe 2027 Elections
The European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS has dismissed reports that it rejected an invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections.
The EU Delegation described the reports as inaccurate, saying they wrongly claimed that the bloc had declined the invitation because of worsening insecurity in Nigeria and alleged hostile treatment of its observers and officials following the release of its final report on the 2023 general election.
In a statement issued by Federal Minister of Information and National Orientation, quoting the EU Delegation, said the mission had, in fact, received a formal invitation from INEC dated April 17, 2026, to deploy observers for the 2027 General Elections.
According to the statement, the EU responded to the invitation on July 28, 2026, thanking INEC and informing the commission that it would field an Electoral Expert Mission (EEM), comprising between two and four independent experts who would be formally accredited as observers by INEC.
“An EEM, like an Electoral Observation Mission, assesses whether the electoral process is conducted in line with international, regional and national obligations and commitments on the conduct of democratic elections to which the country has subscribed,” the EU said.
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The mission explained that the EEM would submit a final report containing recommendations on how to improve Nigeria’s electoral framework and future electoral processes.
The report, it added, would be shared with the Nigerian government and could also be released to the wider public if the government agreed.
The EU Delegation also rejected claims that insecurity and alleged hostility towards its officials were cited as reasons for declining INEC’s invitation.
It said the two reasons attributed to its decision did not appear in its response to INEC, describing them as “pure speculations.”
“The European Union decides every year on electoral missions to be sent to partner countries issuing invitations to the EU and, if the decision is positive, the kind of mission to be sent to each of them, depending on individual situations and available resources,” the statement said.
The EU Delegation said its decision to conduct an Electoral Expert Mission in Nigeria had been taken on that basis and would be further discussed with relevant Nigerian authorities for its implementation.
It further clarified that the decision would not affect the continuation of the EU-funded “Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria” project, including its support for the electoral process.
The EU Delegation urged members of the media to verify reports concerning its positions or statements directly with its press and communication office before publication.
The statement however refers the public and the media to reach out to Gautier MIGNOT, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, for further clarification.
By PRNigeria
