Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he described as a “lack of commitment” to improving Nigeria’s electoral system.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 3, Atiku said Nigerians expect the electoral commission to urgently collaborate with the national assembly to update the country’s election laws and guarantee transparent polls.
The former opposition leader revealed his concerns after hosting a delegation from the European Union (EU) in Abuja.
The mission was led by Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament who also headed the EU’s 2023 election observation mission to Nigeria.
Atiku explained that the visit was part of follow-up engagements on recommendations the EU observation team had made after assessing the last general elections.
“Yesterday evening, I received a high-powered European Union delegation, including the ambassador to Nigeria, H.E Gautier Mignot,” he wrote on X.
“The delegation led by Barry Andrews, a member of the European parliament, who was also head of the 2023 EU election observation mission to Nigeria, is engaging in broad-based conversation on the future of Nigerian elections.
“This visit is a follow-up mission to see the level of implementation of a set of recommendations made by the team following the 2023 general elections.
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“Expectations are high that the Independent National Electoral Commission 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.
“Meanwhile, we shall continue to support efforts by CSOs, local and foreign election observations missions (EOMs), including the EU-EOM, that will lead to genuine electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We believe that only through credible elections shall we safeguard our democracy and recruit leaders that will ensure unity and economic prosperity of Nigeria.”
Atiku, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stressed that credible elections remain the pathway to protecting democracy and building a stable, united Nigeria.
Meanwhile, INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, speaking a day earlier, appealed to the national assembly to expedite amendments to the country’s electoral framework.
“Uncertainty over the legal framework for the election can unsettle the work of the commission as election draws nearer,” Yakubu said.
He also noted that INEC had reviewed the eight recommendations made directly to the commission by the EU observation mission in its post‑election report.