The third Steering Committee meeting of the second phase of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme has approved the 2025 Impact Report and the 2026 Work Plan, reaffirming a joint commitment to deepening democratic governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The meeting, held on Monday, 2 March 2026, was co-chaired by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, with all implementing partners in attendance.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Mignot underscored the EU’s long-standing partnership with Nigeria in strengthening democratic institutions.
“The EU electoral observation missions have been a key element of the EU’s democratic engagement in Nigeria,” he said. “This programme is a primary way of implementing those mission recommendations and translating them into practical reforms.”
He stressed the need for strategic focus as preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace. “Our actions must remain strategic, targeted, and clearly defined to deliver tangible, sustainable and inclusive results. We must adapt to current circumstances while focusing on people-centered outcomes,” the Ambassador added.
Reaffirming the EU’s commitment, Mignot noted that, “The EU will remain a partner for Nigeria on key issues that will sustain the country’s progress toward a peaceful and prosperous society, grounded in a strong democracy that enables all citizens to enjoy their fundamental rights.”
INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, described the meeting as timely, particularly in light of the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026 and the commission’s accelerated preparations for 2027.
“Our meeting today is critical, and we must ensure that the EU-SDGN framework is on course to support INEC as we navigate this new legal framework,” he said.
Highlighting the significance of the documents adopted, he added: “The adoption of the work plan and the impact report are not mere formalities. They are our rules of engagement for the coming year.”
The Programme Manager of the EU-SDGN presented an overview of the programme, outlining its six components, governance structure, and nationwide reach across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. She emphasized that the programme is Nigerian-led and implemented by a consortium of civil society organisations working closely with beneficiary institutions, including INEC, the National Assembly, political parties, the judiciary, media, and the National Peace Committee.
Denis Mutabazi, Monitoring and Evaluation Expert for the EU-SDGN Programme, presented highlights from the 2025 Impact Report and the 2026 Work Plan. He detailed progress across key areas, including support for electoral administration, legislative and judicial reforms, strengthening political parties, media engagement to counter disinformation, and initiatives to enhance women’s political participation and the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Participants commended the programme’s contributions to electoral reforms, institutional capacity building, and civic engagement, while acknowledging the need for sustained efforts to address voter apathy, political party reform, and emerging threats, including AI-driven disinformation.
With the approval of the 2025 Impact Report and 2026 Work Plan, the Steering Committee signaled its resolve to translate strategy into action, reinforcing a shared vision of a transparent, participatory, and resilient democracy in Nigeria.
