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Ahead of next year’s general elections, the African Union Pre-election and Needs Assessment Mission has requested the risk assessment and the readiness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that could affect the credibility of the polls.
Head of the mission and former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonen Hassen, made the request when he led an AU delegation on a visit to the headquarters of the electoral commission in Abuja on Tuesday.
Hassen also sought assurances that INEC had received adequate and timely funding to conduct the electoral process, saying the necessary resources were crucial to delivering credible and transparent elections.
He said that the mission, deployed from September 13 to 19, intended to support the electoral process, identify potential challenges and recommend possible remedies ahead of the elections.
“Our task is just a supporting mission. The mission is to facilitate and to play a preventive role, to appreciate the activities on track, and again, to identify gaps and, based on that, find possible remedies and corrections for a successful election process,” he said.
While announcing that the AU would assess the pre-election, election and post-election phases, he warned that the electoral process must be credible, transparent, fair and inclusive.
“The mission would seek clarification from INEC on the state of the voter register, technology deployment, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, electoral disputes, security and result management.
“In this regard, from the election process, the pre-election phase, the election phase and the post-election phase are very important and sequential processes,” Hassen said.
The delegation also requested INEC to state whether the voter register had been finalised and was credible enough for public and stakeholders’ scrutiny, seeking also updates on the readiness and testing of the commission’s electronic result management systems.
“The preparations on technology applications are very important. Is the IReV fully tested and ready? Lessons taken from the previous election, the preparations on the application of technologies may be really important,” he said.
Raising concerns about logistics and funding, the former Ethiopian minister noted that the size and geographical spread of Nigeria made operational planning critical to the success of the elections, asking: “So, what are the most significant logistical challenges, and how is INEC addressing them?”
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He further asked INEC to outline steps being taken to strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence, as well as mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes that could affect public trust.
On security, integrity, transparency and timely publication of election results under the new legal framework, Hassen asked: “What assurance can you provide regarding the integrity, transparency and timely publication of election results?”
Responding, the INEC Chairman, Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, identified four areas for technical assistance from the AU, listing them as digital training, countering election disinformation, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, and improving inclusion and gender mainstreaming.
Represented by National Commissioner Rhoda Gumus, Amupitan noted: “We seek assistance in scaling interactive e-learning tools, digital simulation models and standardised ICT training protocols for over 1.4 million ad hoc staff to ensure uniform operational compliance across all the polling units.”
On information integrity, she said support in artificial intelligence-driven deepfake detection and rapid-response strategic communications would help the commission counter coordinated misinformation ahead of the elections.
Gumus also requested specialised workshops to strengthen the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, as well as technical support for persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and other underrepresented groups.
She assured the AU delegation of INEC’s transparency and cooperation throughout the assessment exercise.
“Our directors and technical teams stand ready to provide all necessary operational data to assist your mission in formulating an impactful assessment report,” she said.
Gumus further assured that the commission would maintain its independence and neutrality throughout the electoral process.
“Under our watch, every administrative decision will strictly follow the law. Every technical deployment will serve transparency, and the final outcome of the 2027 general election will reflect nothing less than the sovereign will of the Nigerian electorate,” she said.
