Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over what he described as a perceived “lack of commitment” by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process.
In a statement on Friday, Atiku said Nigerians expect the electoral body to work with the national assembly to reform the country’s electoral laws.
The former presidential candidate spoke when he met with a European Union (EU) delegation led by Barry Andrews, a member of the European parliament and head of the 2023 EU election observation mission to Nigeria.
He said the meeting was a follow-up on recommendations made by the EU after the 2023 elections.
Atiku added that Nigerians are eager to see the commission work with lawmakers to deliver reforms that guarantee free, fair, and transparent polls where “every vote counts”.
“Yesterday evening, I received a high-powered European Union delegation, including the ambassador to Nigeria, H.E Gautier Mignot,” he wrote on X.
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“The delegation led by Barry Andrews, a member of the European parliament, who was also head of the 2023 EU election observation mission to Nigeria, is engaging in broad-based conversation on the future of Nigerian elections.
“This visit is a follow-up mission to see the level of implementation of a set of recommendations made by the team following the 2023 general elections.
“Expectations are high that the Independent National Electoral Commission will urgently work with the National Assembly to give citizens election laws that guarantee transparent and credible elections, where every vote counts.
“It is worrisome that two years down the line, we are yet to see indications that INEC is committed to an improved electoral process.
“Meanwhile, we shall continue to support efforts by CSOs, local and foreign election observations missions (EOMs), including the EU-EOM, that will lead to genuine electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We believe that only through credible elections shall we safeguard our democracy and recruit leaders that will ensure unity and economic prosperity of Nigeria.”
On Thursday, Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, asked the national assembly to fast-track amendments to the electoral legal framework.
“Uncertainty over the legal framework for the election can unsettle the work of the commission as election draws nearer,” Yakubu said.
The INEC chair also said the commission has reviewed the eight recommendations addressed to it in the EU mission’s report on the 2023 polls.
