Nigeria assures ECOWAS of credible 2027 elections
The federal government has assured the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of its commitment to conducting peaceful, credible, transparent and inclusive general elections in 2027.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance on Thursday during a meeting with the ECOWAS Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission, led by former Sierra Leone Vice-President Victor Bockarie Foh, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the government was committed to ensuring that the elections complied with the Constitution and applicable electoral laws, describing the exercise as crucial to strengthening democracy in Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region.
She emphasised the importance of institutional preparedness, transparent voter accreditation, effective management of election results and timely resolution of electoral disputes to build public confidence in the electoral process.
The minister also stressed the need for effective coordination among security agencies to protect candidates, electoral officials, observers and voters, while ensuring that security personnel discharged their duties professionally and impartially.
She said political parties, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and the media had important roles to play in promoting peaceful elections.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu further called for increased voter education and measures to tackle electoral offences, misinformation and disinformation through accurate and timely public information.
She also highlighted the need to strengthen electoral participation for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, while acknowledging the importance of credible election observation in promoting transparency and public confidence.
Earlier, Foh said the mission was in Nigeria to assess the country’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections through consultations with key stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations and the media.
