2027: EU turns down observer role — first time in 24 years

The European Union has ruled out deploying a full election observation mission to Nigeria for the 2027 general elections, ending a 24-year tradition of comprehensive EU electoral monitoring dating back to 2003, citing deteriorating security conditions and hostile treatment of its officials following its contentious final report on the 2023 elections.

According to The Sun, rather than the 110-strong observer deployment mounted in 2023, the EU will station approximately three officials in Abuja to monitor and report to Brussels — with no long-term state observers, no election-day short-term observers and no chief observer appointed.

The EU communicated the decision in response to INEC’s formal invitation to observe the 2027 polls.