The Nigerian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting peaceful, credible, transparent and inclusive general elections in 2027, assuring the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of its determination to strengthen democratic governance.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance during a meeting with the ECOWAS Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission to Nigeria, led by former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Victor Foh, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
In a statement issued by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, on Friday, October 30, the Minister reaffirmed the Nigerian Government’s commitment to ensuring that the electoral process complied with the country’s Constitution and applicable electoral laws.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the 2027 general elections as a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy, expressing optimism that the exercise would strengthen democratic governance in the country and the wider West African sub-region.
She emphasised the importance of institutional preparedness, transparent voter accreditation, effective result management and timely resolution of electoral disputes in building public confidence in the electoral system.
The Minister also stressed the need for effective coordination among security agencies to protect candidates, electoral officials, observers and voters, while ensuring that security personnel performed their duties professionally and impartially.
She further highlighted the importance of voter education, effective enforcement of electoral laws and the roles of political parties, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and the media in promoting peaceful elections.
On the challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation, Odumegwu-Ojukwu called for accurate, accessible and timely electoral information to enable citizens to make informed decisions.
She also identified the need for practical measures to improve electoral participation among persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, while underscoring the importance of credible election observation in promoting transparency and public confidence.
Earlier, Foh explained that the mission was in Nigeria to assess the country’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections through consultations with relevant institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations and the media.
He disclosed that the mission had held constructive engagements with stakeholders, including the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Foh said the mission’s preliminary observations indicated a favourable environment for the forthcoming elections, although consultations were still ongoing.
He explained that the mission would submit a report outlining its findings and recommendations upon completion of its engagements.
The former Sierra Leonean Vice-President welcomed the assurances given by the Foreign Affairs Minister and expressed optimism about Nigeria’s electoral preparedness.
Foh also stressed that sustained stakeholder engagement and efforts to address identified concerns would be essential to the success of the electoral process.
He noted that Nigeria’s ability to conduct credible elections in 2027 would have wider implications for democratic governance and stability across West Africa.
