INEC seeks quick passage of electoral legal framework amendments

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has called on the National Assembly to expedite the passage of amendments to the electoral legal framework ahead of the next general election.

Yakubu made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja while receiving the European Union (EU) Election Observation Follow-up Mission to Nigeria, led by Barry Andrews, who also headed the EU Mission to the 2023 general election.

He stressed that early passage of the amendments was crucial to INEC’s preparations, warning that delays could create uncertainty.
“Uncertainty over the legal framework for the election can unsettle the work of the commission as the election draws nearer,” Yakubu said.

The INEC chairman explained that the commission had reviewed and acted on all eight recommendations specifically addressed to it in the EU Election Observation Mission’s (EU EOM) 2023 report. He noted that while administrative measures had already been implemented, recommendations requiring legislative action were awaiting the outcome of the ongoing review at the National Assembly.

Yakubu recalled that in 2019, the EU EOM made 30 recommendations, 11 of which were directed at INEC, including three priority ones. By contrast, the 2023 report contained 23 recommendations, eight of which (34.8 per cent) applied to INEC, with only one listed as priority. The remaining 15 recommendations, he said, involved other institutions such as the executive, legislature, judiciary, political parties, and other stakeholders.

He added that recommendations from the EU, along with those of other observer groups, had been part of INEC’s wide-ranging consultations in its review of the 2023 elections. The commission’s review report contained 142 proposals for electoral reform, and its official report on the general elections was published over a year ago.

“As you are aware, elections are processes governed by law. Many of your recommendations require the review of our electoral laws. For this reason, the commission has engaged with the National Assembly, including a retreat with the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters,” he said.

Yakubu assured the EU mission that INEC would continue to collaborate with both national and international observers to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process.

In his remarks, Andrews said the mission was keen to assess progress on implementing its 2023 recommendations, including reforms to improve transparency, especially in result publication.

He acknowledged that while some reforms had been achieved, others—particularly judicial and constitutional changes—required more time.

“We are very happy to see that there has been significant progress against these recommendations,” Andrews said, noting that the mission’s work formed part of a wider international effort to support and safeguard democracy.