28th June, 2023
Nigeria’s elections early this year were marred by problems that reduced public trust in electoral processes, European Union observers said in a final report released Tuesday.
The 94 page report comes about four months after the presidential election 25 February.
The EU called for reforms to enhance transparency and accountability.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the February vote, whose result is being challenged in court by his two main rivals.
The EU mission said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should improve in six priority areas.
Among the areas it asked for improvement are removing ambiguities in electoral law, ensuring real-time publication of and access to election results and clamping down on electoral offences.
“Shortcomings in law and electoral administration hindered the conduct of well-run and inclusive elections and damaged trust in INEC,” said the report seen by Reuters on Wednesday.
“A lack of transparency and operational failures reduced trust in the process and challenged the right to vote.”
The February vote was marked by the lowest voter turnout since the end of military rule in 1999, the report said.
An INEC spokesman told local TV that the EU mission report was “unfair,” adding that INEC’s failure to upload presidential election results on time was caused by a glitch in its system.
Read the full report here: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/2023/EU%20EOM%20NGA%202023%20FR.pdf