2027 elections: EU to deploy two to four independent experts, says Head of Delegation

From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja

The Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Gautier Mignot, has disclosed that the European Union will deploy two to four independent experts for the 2027 general elections.

Mignot, in a statement issued in Abuja, confirmed that it received a formal invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dated 17 April, 2026, to deploy observers for the 2027 General Elections.

In its response dated 28 July 2026, Mignot said the Delegation thanked the INEC for its kind invitation and informed that the EU will field an Electoral Expert Mission (EEM), composed of two to four independent experts, who will formally be accredited as observers with the INEC.

He explained that the European Union decides every year on electoral missions to be sent to partner countries issuing invitations to the EU and, if the decision is positive, the kind of mission to be sent to each of them, depending on individual situations and available resources.

“It is on this basis that the decision to conduct an EEM in Nigeria has been taken and will be further consulted with the relevant Nigerian authorities for its implementation. This decision does not affect in any way the continuation of the implementation of the EU-funded project “Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria” including its dimension of support to the electoral process,” Mignot said.