(Politics): EU Observers Say Nigerians Committed to Democracy, Reform Needed

 

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) has presented its final report on the Nigerian 2023 general elections, highlighting both positive aspects and enduring systemic weaknesses. The report highlights six priority areas for reform, including removing ambiguities in the law, establishing a publicly accountable selection process for INEC members, and ensuring real-time publication of and access to election results.

The EUEOM also noted that the elections showed the commitment of Nigerians to democracy, but also exposed enduring systemic weaknesses. The mission called for political will to implement its recommendations in order to improve democratic practices in Nigeria. The 2023 general elections were anticipated as a crucial milestone for democracy, but corruption allegations tainted the process, including voter suppression, vote buying, manipulation of rolls, compromised officials, and lack of accountability.

The presidential election, perhaps the most competitive in recent history, saw Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) being elected. He was sworn in as president on 29 May. The election is being contested in court by the two other candidates: Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

However, President Bola Tinubu has rejected the report, describing it as "a product of a poorly done desk job. He said the EU did not provide any substantial evidence viable enough to question the integrity of the 2023 election outcomes."

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