The European Union (EU) has clarified its plans for observing Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, dismissing reports suggesting that the bloc had rejected an invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or was withdrawing from election monitoring in the country.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr Gautier Mignot, said the reports were inaccurate and speculative.

In a statement issued on Monday, Mignot confirmed that the EU received an invitation from INEC in April regarding observation of the 2027 elections.

He explained that the EU had responded to the electoral commission and indicated that it would deploy an Electoral Expert Mission (EEM) comprising between two and four independent observers.

The clarification followed reports suggesting that the EU had declined INEC’s invitation and would end its long-standing involvement in observing elections in Nigeria.

Some reports had also interpreted the planned deployment of a smaller team as evidence that the EU was reluctant to undertake a full election observation mission.

However, Mignot said the decision was part of the EU’s established process for determining the type and scale of electoral missions to deploy to partner countries.

According to him, the EU reviews electoral missions annually and determines whether to deploy a mission based on the circumstances of individual countries and the resources available.

“The European Union decides every year on electoral missions to be sent to partner countries, issuing invitations to the EU and, if the decision is positive, the kind of mission to be sent to each of them, depending on individual situations and available resources,” he said.

He added that the decision to conduct an Electoral Expert Mission in Nigeria had been taken and would be further discussed with the relevant Nigerian authorities to facilitate its implementation.

EU Rejects Speculation Over Reasons for Smaller Mission

The ambassador also addressed reports attributing the decision to deploy between two and four observers to security concerns and alleged hostile treatment of EU officials following the 2023 elections.

Mignot said those explanations were not contained in the EU’s communication to INEC.

“The EU Delegation further underlines that the two alleged reasons mentioned in the press reports do not appear in the letter; these are pure speculations,” he said.

The clarification effectively separates the EU’s decision on the size and nature of its proposed election mission from claims that the bloc had rejected INEC’s invitation or was withdrawing from Nigeria’s electoral process.

EU Reaffirms Support for Democratic Governance

The EU also stressed that the decision regarding the Electoral Expert Mission would not affect its broader support for democratic governance and electoral development in Nigeria.

Mignot said the EU-funded Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria project would continue, including its component focused on supporting the country’s electoral process.

“This decision does not affect in any way the continuation of the implementation of the EU-funded project ‘Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria’, including its dimension of support to the electoral process,” he said.

The development comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, with INEC expected to continue preparations aimed at strengthening the electoral process, improving voter participation and ensuring credible elections.

The EU has historically supported democratic institutions and electoral processes in Nigeria through election observation, technical assistance and governance programmes.

The latest clarification indicates that while the nature and size of the EU’s 2027 election observation presence may differ from previous missions, its broader engagement with Nigeria’s democratic and electoral processes remains ongoing.

The 2027 elections are expected to be closely watched by domestic and international stakeholders, given their importance to Nigeria’s democratic development and political stability.