The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with the African Union (AU) to promote democratic governance and ensure credible, peaceful and inclusive elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, stated this on Wednesday when he received the AU Pre-Election and Needs Assessment Mission to Nigeria, led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
The visit formed part of the AU Mission’s seven-day engagement in Nigeria to assess the country’s preparedness for the 2027 elections and engage relevant government institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders on ways to support a successful electoral process.
Enikanolaiye welcomed the delegation and underscored the importance Nigeria attached to the Mission’s visit, particularly as preparations for the 2027 electoral process were already underway.
He said the AU’s continued engagement demonstrated its commitment to consolidating democratic governance and promoting credible elections across the continent.
“The mandate of this Mission is a demonstration of the African Union’s continued commitment to consolidating democratic governance and promoting credible elections across the continent,” he said.
The minister commended the AU and its institutions for their contributions to the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections across Africa, noting that Nigeria had benefited significantly from the continental body’s efforts to deepen democratic culture.
He assured the delegation of the full cooperation and support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant government institutions in facilitating its engagements with key stakeholders.
“Our hope is that the Mission’s engagements with INEC, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, development partners and other stakeholders will provide valuable insights and recommendations to further strengthen our electoral system,” Enikanolaiye said.
He also reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2027.
Enikanolaiye noted that Nigeria had successfully conducted democratic transitions since May 1999 and would continue on what he described as a positive trajectory in strengthening democratic governance.
“Nigeria expects a balanced and objective assessment of our electoral processes and outcomes. Such an assessment will be welcomed as a constructive contribution to our ongoing efforts to strengthen our democratic institutions and enhance our electoral processes,” he said.
Earlier, Hassen thanked the Federal Government for the cooperation and support extended to his delegation since the commencement of its engagement in Nigeria.
He said the Mission had already held meetings with key stakeholders, including civil society organisations and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to gather diverse perspectives on Nigeria’s level of preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
“We have had the opportunity to meet with some key stakeholders, including civil society organisations and INEC, to gather diverse perspectives on the preparedness of Nigeria for the forthcoming general elections,” Hassen said.
He sought the Ministry’s assistance in facilitating further engagements with institutions and stakeholders relevant to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
Hassen acknowledged the extensive preparations required to conduct elections in a large democratic country like Nigeria, stressing the country’s significant role in shaping democratic norms across Africa.
“Nigeria has a pivotal role in shaping democratic norms across the African continent,” he said.
He assured that the AU would continue to support efforts aimed at enhancing inclusion, fairness and transparency in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Mission’s engagement with Nigerian stakeholders is expected to provide recommendations that could contribute to strengthening electoral institutions, improving public confidence in the electoral process and promoting peaceful political transitions.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Nigeria and the AU to deepening democratic values and advancing peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive elections across Africa.