EU clarifies reports on boycotting Nigeria’s 2027 elections

The European Union (EU) has denied claims it intends to boycott Nigeria's 2027 general elections, stating the reports are inaccurate, according to a statement by Gautier Mignot, the EU ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS. Initial reports suggested the EU had turned down an invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe the elections due to rising insecurity and perceived unfriendly behavior during the 2023 election observation mission.

PDP also cited these reasons as a significant vote of no confidence in the election management under the current APC-led administration. However, Mignot clarified that the EU indeed accepted INEC's invitation and would send a smaller Electoral Expert Mission (EEM) to Nigeria. The EU's delegation received the formal invitation, dated April 17, 2026, and replied on July 28, 2026, confirming their participation.

The mission will consist of two to four independent experts who will evaluate whether the electoral process aligns with international, regional, and national standards, and they will submit a final report with recommendations to improve Nigeria's electoral system. Mignot emphasized that the reported reasons for the EU's decision, such as insecurity and alleged hostile treatment, were not mentioned in the EU's letter to INEC, describing them as mere speculation.

The EU has been observing Nigeria's elections since 2003, establishing it as one of Africa's longest-running election observation engagements. Mignot advised the public and media to refrain from relying on unverified reports about the EU's positions or decisions.