Yakubu to N'Assembly: Delay in legal reforms may affect INEC's preparation for 2027 elections
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has appealed to the National Assembly to expedite amendments to Nigeria’s electoral legal framework, warning that delays could unsettle the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
Yakubu made the appeal while receiving the European Union election observation follow-up mission in Abuja. He stressed that many of the recommendations from international and domestic reviews require changes to the law and that an early passage of the proposed reforms is critical to INEC’s planning cycle. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
According to the INEC chairman, some recommendations can be implemented administratively, but others—particularly those that touch the legal and constitutional architecture of elections—cannot be fully actioned until the National Assembly completes its review and passes the necessary amendments. The commission, he noted, has already considered recommendations directly addressed to it and is taking steps on matters within its administrative remit. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
“Uncertainty over the legal framework for the election can unsettle the work of the commission as the election draws nearer,” Yakubu said, underlining the risks of planning without a settled legislative basis.
The call to lawmakers comes as stakeholders renew focus on electoral reform ahead of 2027. Civil society organisations, international partners and electoral experts have repeatedly flagged legal clarity as essential for logistics, procurement, voter registration processes, and the deployment of technologies and observers. Without timely legislative certainty, critical timelines for procurement, recruitment and training could be compressed, increasing the risk of operational bottlenecks. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Yakubu’s warning also highlights the interplay between administrative reforms and statutory change. While INEC has moved on a range of internal recommendations emerging from the 2023 post-election reviews, the full realisation of some reforms—such as those that may alter electoral procedures or the powers and responsibilities of institutions involved—depends on statutory amendment. That dependency, he said, makes legislative action a practical necessity rather than merely a policy preference. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
International partners, including the EU observation follow-up team, have continued to encourage Nigeria to pursue reforms that will strengthen transparency and credibility. The EU mission’s interactions with INEC and other stakeholders have resulted in a set of recommendations intended to reduce disputes and build public confidence in the process—recommendations the commission says it has considered and incorporated where possible. However, some of those recommendations explicitly require amendments to primary legislation. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
The timeline is also a practical concern. With the 2027 election year approaching, the lead times for procurement of materials, training of ad hoc staff, deployment logistics and accreditation procedures are significant. Yakubu emphasised that passing laws sooner rather than later allows for orderly sequencing of these activities and reduces the chance of last-minute adjustments that could disrupt the electoral calendar. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
For the National Assembly, the message from INEC is straightforward: legislation that clarifies and modernises the electoral framework will not only support the commission’s planning but also help shore up public confidence in the process. For other stakeholders, including political parties, civil society and international observers, the call underlines the shared interest in a predictable legal environment ahead of the polls.
As discussions continue in legislative committees and stakeholder fora, observers will be watching whether lawmakers accelerate work on the reform proposals. The speed with which the National Assembly acts could determine how smoothly INEC can move from planning into implementation for the 2027 general elections.