ECOWAS Mission Launches Pre-Election Engagements Ahead of 2027 Polls

The ECOWAS Commission Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission to Nigeria has begun consultations with key stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement on the ECOWAS Commission Website, the engagement with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC, the Mission discussed electoral reforms, institutional trust, political security, inclusiveness and measures to prevent election-related tensions.

The consultation enabled the ECOWAS Commission Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission “to assess the political and electoral environment, identify potential sources of tension, and consider practical steps to support peaceful, credible, transparent, and inclusive elections”.

During the meeting, the IPAC representatives raised concerns about “public confidence in electoral institutions, particularly the perceived independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC, the transparency of appointments to its leadership, and how much political parties’ recommendations have shaped electoral reforms”.

The Inter-Party Advisory Council called for more “transparent and inclusive processes for appointing electoral officials, along with reforms to candidate nomination procedures, the high cost of party primaries, and concerns about the fairness of electoral rules and their application”.

The Council stressed that sustained stakeholder engagement and confidence in electoral institutions remain essential to strengthening democratic participation and the legitimacy of electoral outcomes.

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The Inter-Party Advisory Council representatives also called for “professional, impartial, and adequate security measures to protect political actors and ensure that all parties can exercise their democratic rights without fear or undue restriction”.

The IPAC raised concerns about vote buying, poverty-related electoral vulnerabilities, inflammatory political rhetoric, and the perceived weakness of enforcement against electoral violations.

Participants urged consistent investigations and appropriate sanctions for offenders, regardless of political affiliation, as part of broader efforts to strengthen electoral integrity and peaceful political competition.

In his response, the Head of the ECOWAS Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission and former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Victor Bockarie Foh, emphasized the “need for sustained dialogue among political parties, INEC, security agencies, and civil society organizations. He described preventive engagement as a vital way to address emerging concerns before they escalate into broader disputes”.

The IPAC was represented by its Director General and National Chairman of the National Rescue Movement, Prince Chinedu Obi; National Legal Adviser, Mr. Obed Okwukwe Agu; National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Egbeola Wale Martins and the National Chairman of the National Democratic Party.