Abstract
The conduct of credible elections remains a cornerstone of democratic consolidation, particularly in transitional democracies like Nigeria. This study critically analyzes the role and impact of foreign election observers in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential elections. The presence of international observers from the European Union (EU), African Union (AU), Commonwealth, and other multilateral organisations has historically served as a mechanism to enhance transparency, foster electoral integrity, and provide independent assessments of the electoral process. However, the 2023 presidential elections, marred by allegations of irregularities, logistical failures, and controversies surrounding the transmission of results, raised critical questions about the effectiveness and influence of these foreign observers. Drawing on secondary data sources including observer mission reports, electoral commission statements, media coverage, and scholarly analyses, this research evaluates the extent to which foreign observers influenced both domestic and international perceptions of the election’s legitimacy. The study also interrogates the limitations of foreign observer missions in the face of systemic electoral challenges such as voter suppression, security threats, technological failures, and political interference. The findings reveal that while observer groups highlighted significant procedural shortcomings and offered recommendations for electoral reforms, their presence had a limited immediate effect on deterring malpractices or altering the election outcome. The study argues that the recurring pattern of unheeded observer recommendations points to deeper institutional weaknesses within Nigeria’s electoral system, underscoring the need for internal democratic strengthening rather than overreliance on external actors. This research contributes to the broader discourse on electoral governance and democratic accountability in Africa, advocating for a recalibrated approach where foreign observation complements, rather than substitutes, robust domestic electoral reform efforts. Ultimately, the study concludes that while foreign observers play an important symbolic and technical role, their impact is contingent on the political will of local actors and the institutional readiness of electoral bodies to implement substantive reforms.