INEC Chairman Urges National Assembly to Act Swiftly on Electoral Reform Proposal

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has issued a strong appeal to the National Assembly to expedite the passage of proposed amendments to the country’s electoral legal framework. This plea, made during a meeting with the European Union (EU) Election Observation Follow-up Mission to Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday, underscores the critical nature of legal certainty for effective planning ahead of the next general election.

Dependable NG reports that Professor Yakubu emphasised that “uncertainty over the legal framework for the election can unsettle the work of the commission as the election draws nearer.” This statement highlights the precarious position of INEC, which requires sufficient lead time to implement new regulations, procure materials, and train personnel based on the finalised law. He noted that the commission has already engaged extensively with the National Assembly, including participating in a retreat with the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters to streamline the reform proposals. The INEC Chairman confirmed that the commission has thoroughly addressed all eight recommendations specifically directed to it in the European Union Election Observation Mission’s (EU EOM) final report on the 2023 general election. He noted that action has already been taken on administrative measures, and collective action is underway for cross-cutting recommendations while waiting for legislative intervention for the remaining points.

Professor Yakubu revealed that INEC’s comprehensive post-election review of the 2023 polls, which incorporated feedback from various national and international observer groups, resulted in a total of 142 recommendations for electoral reform. Of this extensive list, eight recommendations require legislative action by the National Assembly. While the INEC Chairman did not elaborate on the specific legislative demands during the meeting, information on INEC’s proposed reforms from its published review report includes critical suggestions such as: seeking clear legal provisions regarding the use of manual versus electronic result transmission to enhance transparency and public trust; advocating for the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission and a separate agency for the registration and regulation of political parties, thereby allowing INEC to focus solely on election management; and proposing constitutional amendments to allow early voting for essential service providers, election officials, and security agents, as well as pushing for diaspora voting to enfranchise Nigerians living abroad.

Professor Yakubu welcomed the delegation warmly, noting that this is the third EU follow-up mission hosted by the current Commission, following similar visits in 2017 and 2022. He highlighted that out of the 23 recommendations made in the EU EOM’s 2023 report, eight were directly… pic.twitter.com/tmPTMGqNlN

— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) October 2, 2025

The leader of the EU Election Observation Follow-up Mission, Barry Andrews, who also headed the EU Mission during the 2023 General Election, stated that the purpose of their visit was to assess the progress of implementation of the EU EOM’s 23 recommendations. Andrews reported that the mission was happy to see “significant progress” in addressing the recommendations, acknowledging the various challenges. He stressed, however, that the mission is particularly interested in reforms requiring constitutional amendments, noting the complexity of the process. Andrews underscored that the recommendations are made against international standards to which Nigeria is committed, and he highlighted the importance of enhancing transparency in the publication of results, which was a key priority recommendation in their report following the 2023 general election. The ongoing legislative process at the National Assembly will therefore be crucial in determining INEC’s readiness and the quality of the democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections. The commission’s plea signals a clear desire to finalise the legal framework promptly, avoiding the destabilising uncertainty of past electoral cycles.