The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of proposed amendments to the country’s electoral legal framework.

Yakubu made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja during a meeting with the European Union (EU) Election Observation Follow-up Mission to Nigeria, led by Barry Andrews, who also headed the EU Mission during the 2023 General Election.

Yakubu emphasized that the early passage of the amended electoral law is crucial for INEC’s effective planning ahead of the next general election.

“Uncertainty over the legal framework for the election can unsettle the work of the commission as the election draws nearer,” Yakubu said.

He noted that INEC had thoroughly reviewed all eight recommendations specifically directed to the commission in the European Union Election Observation Mission’s (EU EOM) report on the 2023 general election.

Yakubu recalled that in 2019, the EU EOM made 30 recommendations, 11 of which were addressed to INEC. Of those, three were classified as priority recommendations, while the remaining eight were considered general.