EU to deploy electoral expert mission for Nigeria’s 2027 polls

The European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS has dismissed reports that it declined an invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Monday, the EU Delegation described the reports as inaccurate and said it had accepted INEC’s invitation to deploy an Electoral Expert Mission (EEM) for the elections.

The delegation said INEC formally invited the EU on April 17, 2026, while its response dated July 28 confirmed that the bloc would deploy between two and four independent experts who would be accredited by INEC as electoral observers.

According to the EU, the EEM will assess whether the electoral process complies with Nigeria’s international, regional and national obligations on democratic elections and subsequently submit a report containing recommendations for improving the electoral framework and future elections.

“The two alleged reasons mentioned in the press reports do not appear in the letter: these are 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 delegation said.

The EU explained that its decision to deploy an EEM to Nigeria was based on its assessment of the country’s situation and available resources, adding that the decision would be further discussed with relevant Nigerian authorities.

It also clarified that the deployment of an EEM would not affect the implementation of the EU-funded Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria project, including its support for the electoral process.

The delegation urged the media to verify reports concerning EU positions or statements with its press and communication office to avoid publishing inaccurate information.