LAST week, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) presented its final report on the 2023 general election, highlighting six areas that require urgent attention. Regrettably, however, the Presidency reacted to the report with reckless rhetoric instead of sobriety, accusing the EU EOM of sabotage and undue influence in Nigeria’s elections though the international body only monitored the presidential/National Assembly and governorship/state assembly polls following its invitation by the authorities. Regardless of the partisan position of the Presidency on the 2023 polls, the EU EOM’s stance that the elections did not meet the expectations of Nigerians is unimpeachable. A plethora of observers, both local and international, provided documentary evidence of serial infractions during the polls. We believe that the EU EOM report, alongside similar ones by local and international observers, provide a meaningful commentary on the conduct, acceptance and legitimacy of the 2023 polls.

Source: Nigerian Tribune July 05, 2023 20:48 UTC