The European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS has dismissed recent media reports claiming it rejected an invitation to observe Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections.
In a statement issued on Monday by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, the Delegation clarified that it accepted the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) invitation and will field an Electoral Expert Mission (EEM) for the upcoming polls.
The clarification comes in response to media reports alleging that the EU sent a letter to INEC declining to observe the 2027 polls.
The reports claimed the rejection was due to worsening national security and hostility toward observers following the publication of the EU’s final report on the 2023 general election.
Ambassador Mignot labeled those reports “pure speculation,” stating that neither claim appeared in the Delegation’s official correspondence to INEC.
According to the statement, INEC formally invited the EU on 17 April 2026 to deploy observers.
In its response dated 28 July 2026, the EU Delegation expressed gratitude for the invitation and confirmed it would deploy an EEM comprising two to four independent technical experts who will be formally accredited by INEC.
The EU explained that an EEM, like a full Electoral Observation Mission (EOM), assesses whether an election aligns with national, regional, and international democratic commitments.
The expert team will submit a final report containing recommendations to enhance the electoral framework.
That report will be shared with the Nigerian government and may be released to the public upon mutual agreement.
The Delegation noted that decisions regarding the type of electoral mission deployed to partner countries are made annually based on context, specific country needs, and available resources.
The EU further reassured stakeholders that the deployment of the EEM will not impact ongoing support under the EU-funded project, “Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria,” which continues to assist the nation’s electoral process.
The Delegation urged media organizations to verify information with its press and communication office before publication to prevent the spread of misleading reports.
