Nigeria Assures ECOWAS of Commitment to Peaceful, Credible 2027 Elections
Oru Leonard
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting peaceful, credible, transparent and inclusivegeneral 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 on Thursday, October 29, 2026, during a meeting with the ECOWAS Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
The mission was led by former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Victor Bockarie Foh, who was accompanied by ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ms. Francess Piagie Alghali, and other members of the delegation.
Foh explained that the mission was in Nigeria to assess the country’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections through consultations with relevant stakeholders, 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), Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room and Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
According to him, the mission’s preliminary assessment indicated a favourable environment for the forthcoming elections, although consultations were still ongoing.
He said a comprehensive report containing the mission’s findings and recommendations would be submitted upon the conclusion of its assignment.
Responding, Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the 2027 general elections as a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy, expressing optimism that the exercise would further strengthen democratic institutions in Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region.
She stressed the importance of institutional preparedness, transparent voter accreditation, effective election result management and timely resolution of electoral disputes in building public confidence in the electoral system.
The minister also emphasised the need for robust coordination among security agencies to protect candidates, electoral officials, observers and voters before, during and after the elections.
She maintained that security personnel must discharge their responsibilities professionally and impartially, in accordance with Nigeria’s human rights obligations.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu further highlighted the importance of voter education, effective enforcement of electoral laws and the collective responsibilities of political parties, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and the media in ensuring peaceful elections.
She particularly warned against the dangers of misinformation and disinformation, calling for accurate, accessible and timely dissemination of electoral information.
The minister also identified the need to strengthen practical measures that would improve electoral participation among persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
She noted that credible election observation remained essential to promoting transparency, strengthening public confidence and identifying areas requiring improvement throughout the electoral process.
In his response, Foh welcomed the Nigerian government’s assurances and expressed optimism about the country’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
He called for sustained stakeholder engagement and continued efforts to address emerging observations, noting that Nigeria’s ability to conduct credible elections would have wider implications for democratic governance and stability across West Africa.
The meeting ended with both parties reaffirming their commitment to promoting democratic governance, peace, stability and prosperity in the West African sub-region.
