Prominent civil society organisations have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue timely invitations and accreditations to the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) and other reputable international and domestic monitoring groups ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The call was made in a joint statement by Youths United for Good Governance (YUGG) and the Moses Okorie Development and Awareness Foundation (MODAF).
The groups commended INEC for its early preparations and continued efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic framework through electoral reforms.
The signatories, David Maxwell, National Coordinator of YUGG, and Moses Okorie, National Coordinator of MODAF, acknowledged the commission’s engagement with key stakeholders and the introduction of measures aimed at improving transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
The organisations said the EU Election Observation Mission remained one of Nigeria’s most trusted international electoral partners, citing its involvement in the country’s electoral process over more than two decades.
They said independent assessments provided by the mission had contributed to public discourse, policy reforms and the strengthening of democratic institutions.
“The participation of the EU Election Observation Mission, together with other recognised observer missions, would further reinforce public confidence in the credibility, transparency, and inclusiveness of the 2027 electoral process,” the statement said.
The groups also highlighted the economic benefits associated with the deployment of international election observers, noting that observer missions create temporary employment opportunities for Nigerians and generate economic activity in host communities.
They cited historical deployments of approximately 150 personnel in 2015, 170 in 2019 and 110 in 2023.
According to the organisations, young Nigerians have benefited from such deployments through employment as interpreters, logistics coordinators, analysts, drivers and administrative staff.
They added that local hospitality, transportation and telecommunications businesses also benefit from the presence of international observer missions during election periods.
Addressing concerns over foreign involvement in Nigeria’s electoral process, YUGG and MODAF said international observation complemented rather than compromised the country’s sovereignty.
“On the contrary, it reflects the nation’s confidence in its democratic institutions and demonstrates its commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous electoral improvement in line with international best practices,” the groups said.
The organisations expressed optimism that all qualified and credible observer missions would receive formal invitations and accreditation in line with established guidelines as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
They said Nigeria’s willingness to facilitate open and credible election observation would strengthen public confidence, reinforce its democratic leadership in Africa and provide reassurance to development partners and international investors.
The groups urged INEC to sustain its engagement with stakeholders and ensure that the accreditation and deployment of election observers are handled transparently and in good time ahead of the polls.
