Yakubu to n’assembly: Delay in legal reforms may affect INEC’s preparation for 2027 elections

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has asked the national assembly to fast-track amendments to the electoral legal framework.

Yakubu spoke on Thursday in Abuja when he hosted Barry Andrews, head of the European Union (EU) election observation follow-up mission to Nigeria.

He said an early passage of the legislation is crucial to the commission’s preparations for the next general election.

“Uncertainty over the legal framework for the election can unsettle the work of the commission as election draws nearer,” he said.

The INEC chair said the commission has reviewed the eight recommendations addressed to it in the EU mission’s report on the 2023 polls.

He noted that in 2019, the EU mission made 30 recommendations, with 11 specifically directed at INEC. Three of them were classified as priorities, while the other eight were general.

He said in contrast, the EU’s 2023 report contained 23 recommendations, with eight directed at the commission. Only one of those was listed as a priority, he added.

Yakubu said the remaining 15 recommendations — five of which were marked as priorities — require action by other institutions in the executive, legislature, judiciary, political parties, and other stakeholders.

“The commission has carefully considered all the eight recommendations specifically addressed to us in your report,” he said.

“Action has been taken on aspects of the recommendations that only require administrative action to implement.

“Similarly, action is being taken on cross-cutting recommendations that require collective action between INEC and other bodies and stakeholders while waiting for the conclusion of the ongoing legal review by the national assembly on the recommendations that require legislative intervention.”

Yakubu said recommendations from the EU and other observer groups have been part of wide-ranging consultations with critical institutions during INEC’s post-election review.

He said the review report contains 142 recommendations for electoral reform, adding that the commission released its main 2023 election report more than a year ago.

“As you are aware, election is a process governed by law. Many of your recommendations require the review of our electoral laws,” he said.

“For this reason, the commission had interfaced with our national assembly, including a retreat with the joint committee on electoral matters.”

Yakubu assured the EU team that INEC will continue to engage with observers, noting that their input has contributed to improving the credibility of Nigeria’s elections.

 EU MISSION SEEKS UPDATE

On his part, Andrews said the mission’s visit was to assess how far INEC has implemented the recommendations on the 2023 general election.

He said the team also wanted to know the progress made, the concerns that remain, and possible obstacles, particularly around constitutional reform.

“We are very happy to see that there has been significant progress against these recommendations,” Andrews said.

“We recognise that there are certain time constraints, both in terms of judicial reform as well as administrative reform.

“Of course, constitutional reform, which is somewhat more difficult, but we are making all of these recommendations against international standards that the EU, that Nigeria, that most countries, have signed up to.

“So we are part of an overall international election observation ecosystem that has really served to buttress democracy, to support democracy, not just here in Nigeria, not just in Africa, but across the world and in Europe as well.”

Andrews added that the mission was interested in measures INEC has taken to improve the transparency of result publication, especially in off-cycle governorship elections held after the 2023 polls.