By Dennis Okechukwu
The European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS has dismissed reports that it rejected an invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The EU, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday and signed by its Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described the reports as inaccurate and based on speculation.
According to the Delegation, INEC formally invited the EU on April 17, 2026, to deploy observers for the 2027 general elections.
The EU said it responded to the invitation on July 28, 2026, thanking INEC and informing the commission that it would deploy an Electoral Expert Mission (EEM), comprising between two and four independent experts, who would be formally accredited as observers by INEC.
“An EEM, like an Electoral Observation Mission, assesses whether the electoral process is conducted in line with international, regional and national obligations and commitments on the conduct of democratic elections to which the country has subscribed,” the statement said.
The mission is expected to submit a final report containing recommendations on ways to improve Nigeria’s electoral framework and future electoral processes.
The EU said the report would be shared with the Nigerian government and could subsequently be made available to the wider public if the government agrees.
The Delegation also rejected claims that its decision to deploy an Electoral Expert Mission was based on the worsening security situation in Nigeria or alleged hostile treatment of EU observers and officials following the publication of its final report on the 2023 general election.
It described the two reasons attributed to the EU in the reports as “pure speculations,” stressing that they did not appear in its letter to INEC.
The EU explained that it makes annual decisions on electoral missions to partner countries that invite it, with the type of mission determined by the circumstances of each country 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,” the statement said.
The Delegation further clarified that the decision to deploy an Electoral Expert Mission would not affect the continuation of the EU-funded “Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria” project, including its support for the electoral process.
The EU also urged members of the media to verify reports concerning its positions or statements directly with its press and communication office before publication.
The statement was signed by Gautier Mignot, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS.