….EU Delegation dismisses reports that it rejected INEC invitation, says 2–4 independent experts will assess Nigeria’s 2027 electoral process
The European Union Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has dismissed reports that it declined an invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
The EU said it has, in fact, accepted the invitation and will deploy an Electoral Expert Mission (EEM) comprising between two and four independent experts to Nigeria for the 2027 elections.
The clarification followed press reports alleging that the EU had written to INEC rejecting an invitation to observe the elections, citing worsening insecurity across Nigeria and alleged hostile treatment of EU observers and officials following the publication of its final report on the 2023 general election.
The EU Delegation described those reports as inaccurate and said the two reasons cited in the reports were not contained in its correspondence with INEC.
EU confirms INEC invitation
According to the EU Delegation, INEC formally invited the European Union to deploy an electoral mission for the 2027 general elections in a letter dated April 17, 2026.
The EU responded on July 28, 2026, thanking INEC for the invitation and informing the electoral commission that the bloc would deploy an Electoral Expert Mission.
The mission’s members will be formally accredited as observers by INEC.
The EU stressed that the decision represents a continuation of its engagement with Nigeria’s democratic and electoral institutions rather than a withdrawal from the country’s electoral process.
What the EU Electoral Expert Mission will do
The EU said an Electoral Expert Mission, like a conventional Electoral Observation Mission, will assess whether Nigeria’s electoral process is conducted in accordance with relevant international, regional and national obligations and commitments relating to democratic elections.
The mission will also prepare a final report containing recommendations aimed at improving Nigeria’s electoral framework and future electoral processes.
According to the EU Delegation, the report will be shared with the Nigerian government and may subsequently be released to the wider public if the government agrees.
The mission’s mandate therefore extends beyond observing voting day. It is designed to examine broader elements of the electoral process and identify areas where Nigeria’s electoral framework and administration could be strengthened.
EU rejects claims over security and treatment of observers
The EU Delegation said reports that it rejected the INEC invitation because of Nigeria’s worsening security situation and the alleged hostile treatment of EU personnel after its 2023 election report were speculative.
“The two alleged reasons mentioned in the press reports do not appear in the letter: these are pure speculations,” the delegation said.
The EU explained that it makes decisions annually on whether to deploy electoral missions to partner countries that invite it.
Where the decision is positive, the type of mission deployed depends on the circumstances of the individual country as well as the EU’s available resources.
It said Nigeria’s 2027 Elector
