The Chief of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria, Mr. Barry Andrews, announced that the mission’s role is strictly observational and will not involve any interference in the upcoming elections scheduled for February 25 and March 11. This statement was made during a press briefing held on Monday in Abuja, where he outlined the mission’s objectives in Nigeria. He emphasized that the EU EOM’s mandate is to observe all aspects of the electoral process as invited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria.
Mr. Andrews stated, “We will assess the extent to which the elections comply with international and regional commitments, as well as the laws of Nigeria.” He clarified that the mission operates independently from the Delegation of the EU to Nigeria, ECOWAS, EU member states, EU institutions, and other international organizations. Additionally, he noted that the Electoral Act of 2022 has introduced new measures designed to enhance various aspects of election conduct, and the EU EOM will closely monitor the implementation of these measures.
For the first time in Nigeria, the mission includes a dedicated Election Technology Analyst tasked with evaluating the use of technology, particularly in the areas of voter verification and result transmission. Furthermore, a Media Analyst and a Social Media Analyst are assessing the roles of traditional media, social media, and digital communication throughout the electoral process. The EU EOM commenced its work nearly three weeks ago with a core team of 11 experts specializing in different facets of elections. Since January 29, 40 long-term observers have been deployed in pairs across all states of Nigeria, supported by seven members of the European Parliament and approximately 40 locally recruited observers from 25 EU member states.
Mr. Andrews also mentioned that representatives from Switzerland, Norway, and Canada will join the mission shortly before the elections, bringing the total number of observers to around 100. These observers will monitor the voting, counting, and tabulation procedures on February 25 and March 11. He indicated that the EU EOM will issue a preliminary statement two days after each election day and will remain in Nigeria until the entire electoral process is completed, including handling complaints, appeals, and any potential second round of the presidential election.
The EU EOM was deployed following an invitation from INEC, and all mission members are required to adhere to a code of conduct that mandates strict impartiality and non-interference in the electoral process. Mr. Andrews reiterated that the EU EOM conducts its work in line with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, which is recognized by the United Nations. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the EU employs a consistent methodology for observing elections, ensuring that observers do not interfere in the electoral process and lack the authority to amend or rectify any issues. All EU election observers are bound by a stringent Code of Conduct and Ethical Guidelines that ensure their neutrality and impartiality. The EU EOM aims to bolster public confidence in the electoral process without interfering in the conduct of elections or validating their results.
Comments are closed for this story.