INEC IMPLEMENTS ECOWAS OBSERVER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM 2023 ELECTIONS

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun implementing key recommendations from the ECOWAS Observer Mission’s report on Nigeria’s 2023 General Elections, as part of its electoral reform agenda ahead of 2027.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at a policy dialogue in Abuja where stakeholders convened to review the election process and identify areas for improvement.
Among the adopted recommendations are the early release of election funding, strengthening the independence of the electoral body, improved result transmission, and voter education campaigns tailored to rural populations.
Yakubu said the reforms are aimed at building trust in the electoral process and addressing logistical challenges that marred the 2023 polls, including late arrival of materials and conflicting court decisions on candidate eligibility.
The ECOWAS mission had rated the 2023 elections as “generally peaceful” but cited “serious shortcomings in transparency, voter confidence, and technology reliability.” INEC’s adoption of these reforms signals a readiness to course-correct before the next major electoral cycle.