Atiku Accuses INEC of Lacking Commitment to Electoral Reforms

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the commission has shown little willingness to improve Nigeria’s electoral system nearly two years after the 2023 general elections.

Abubakar, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last elections, made the remarks in a statement on Friday after hosting a delegation from the European Union (EU) led by Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament and head of the EU Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) to Nigeria in 2023.

According to him, Nigerians expect INEC to collaborate with the National Assembly to amend electoral laws and implement long-awaited reforms that will guarantee free, fair, and credible polls.

“This visit is a follow-up mission to assess the level of implementation of recommendations made by the EU-EOM after the 2023 general elections,” Abubakar said.

“Expectations are high that INEC will urgently work with the National Assembly to give citizens election laws that guarantee transparent and credible elections where every vote counts. It is worrisome that two years down the line, we are yet to see indications that INEC is committed to an improved electoral process.”

Abubakar added that he would continue to support the efforts of civil society groups and international observer missions pushing for electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We believe that only through credible elections can we safeguard our democracy and recruit leaders that will ensure unity and economic prosperity,” he said.

Meanwhile, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu has urged lawmakers to expedite amendments to the electoral legal framework, warning that delays could affect the commission’s preparations for upcoming elections.

“Uncertainty over the legal framework for the election can unsettle the work of the commission as election draws nearer,” Yakubu told members of the National Assembly.

He also confirmed that the commission has reviewed the eight recommendations addressed directly to it in the EU-EOM’s 2023 report.