EU Debunks Report of Rejecting INEC Invitation for 2027 Polls

The European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS has debunked reports that it rejected an invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe the 2027 general elections.

The delegation said it had accepted INEC’s invitation and would deploy an Electoral Expert Mission (EEM) comprising two to four independent experts for the elections.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, following reports that the bloc had declined INEC’s invitation because of worsening insecurity and alleged hostile treatment of its observers and officials after the publication of its final report on the 2023 general election.

The EU described the reports as inaccurate, stressing that the two reasons cited in the reports did not feature in its correspondence with INEC.

It said INEC formally invited the EU to deploy observers for the 2027 General Elections in a letter dated April 17, 2026, and that the delegation responded on July 28, thanking the electoral body for the invitation and informing it of the decision to field an Electoral Expert Mission.

The mission, according to the delegation, will be formally accredited as observers by INEC.

The EU explained that an EEM, like an Electoral Observation Mission, assesses whether an electoral process complies with international, regional and national obligations and commitments on democratic elections to which the country has subscribed.

The mission is also expected to submit a final report containing recommendations on how to improve the electoral framework and future electoral processes.

“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 delegation said the final report would be shared with the Nigerian government and, if the government agreed, could also be released to the wider public.

It further stressed that the choice to deploy an Electoral Expert Mission was not a rejection of the invitation, explaining that the EU reviews its electoral support missions annually for partner countries that invite it.

The decision on the nature of the mission to be deployed, it said, depends on 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 delegation said.

The EU also dismissed the reported claims that security concerns and alleged hostility towards its personnel were responsible for its decision, describing the assertions as “pure speculations”.

The delegation said its decision to deploy the expert mission would not affect its broader support for Nigeria’s democratic process.

It specifically reaffirmed the continuation of the EU-funded **Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria** project, including its component supporting the electoral process.

The clarification comes as INEC and political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the role of international observers expected to form part of wider efforts to strengthen confidence in the electoral process.

The EU urged the Nigerian media to verify reports concerning its positions or official communications before publication.

The delegation said journalists could contact its press and communication office to establish the accuracy of information attributed to the EU.

The statement was signed by Mignot, who reiterated the delegation’s clarification on its planned electoral engagement in Nigeria.