The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has affirmed that the European Union’s (EU) partnership with the Commission and other stakeholders since the return to democracy in 1999 has contributed immensely to the consolidation of the electoral and democratic process in the country.

He said that Nigeria’s electoral process improved incrementally over the last six electoral cycles but acknowledged that “a lot of work lies ahead,” he remarked during the maiden visit of the newly accredited Ambassador of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and West Africa, Mr. Gautier Mignot, to the Commission on Tuesday, 28th January 2025.

The INEC Chairman observed that since the 2023 General Election, the Commission has received reports from many of the 206 national and foreign groups and international organisations, including the European Union Observation Mission (EU-EOM), accredited to observe the elections.

EU Ambassador, INEC Chairman and Others
He said the EU-EOM made 23 recommendations, eight of which require the Commission’s action, while 15 require actions by the executive, judiciary, and legislative arms of government and other stakeholders.

Prof. Yakubu noted that the Commission, in line with its tradition, undertook an extensive review of the 2023 General Election, producing a 524-page main report and a 74-page review report containing 142 recommendations. He said the Commission has already begun implementing aspects of the recommendations that only require its administrative action.

He explained: “For instance, in some of the off-cycle, re-run, and bye-elections conducted since the General Election, there has been improvement in the quality of training of ad hoc staff involving the deployment of more BVAS machines for this purpose.

“There has also been The functionality of the BVAS in voter accreditation has significantly improved. Using fingerprint or facial authentication. Additionally, the IReV uploads election results more quickly.

“Voter registration in Edo and Ondo States ahead of the governorship elections was better coordinated, and the collection of PVCs was almost seamless, with 80 percent of the cards collected by eligible voters.

“The perennial problem The recent Ondo State event also aggressively addressed logistics. Governorship election. We are working hard to improve other aspects of electoral operations.”

The INEC Chairman welcomed the EU’s assurance of continuous engagement and collaboration with the Commission as the third phase of the European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) beckons. 

Earlier in his remarks, Ambassador Mignot emphasised the significance of fighting disinformation and ensuring transparency within the electoral processes. He noted that while democracy is unique as a system of government, it thrives on shared experiences and mutual learning.

The Ambassador commended Nigeria’s democratic progress and the adoption of innovative technologies, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), which, he averred, serve as examples of how technology can enhance electoral credibility.

The envoy stressed the EU’s dedication to remaining a neutral partner in Nigeria’s democratic journey, emphasising that its involvement “is not about imposing ideas but about sharing experiences to strengthen democratic institutions.”

“The EU is committed to maintaining close collaboration with INEC and other stakeholders to address emerging challenges while celebrating the successes of Nigeria’s evolving democracy,” he said.