EOM report on 2023 elections done by ‘independent observers’ – EU replies Wike

European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Samuela Isopi has told former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike that the organisation’s report on the February and March 2023 General Elections in Nigeria was put together by independent observers and not the body itself or any of its staff.

Defending her organisation’s work on the concluded elections, the EU ambassador told Wike that complaints against the report submitted by the observers is being misdirected at her or any of the organisation’s staff, as, according to her, it has ‘nothing to do with her own operations.’

Ms Isopi who stated this during a courtesy visit to Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Abuja, Monday, had listened to the latter raise objections over the EU report which had indicted the Rivers State Government, as well as, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over their roles in the polls.

The EU’s indictment of the Rivers Government under the then Governor Wike was also corroborated by a BBC report which had similarly alleged massive irregularities during the conduct of the February 25 presidential elections in the state, perpetrated by state actors.

It would be recalled that the EU had released three reports on the elections as compiled by its Election Observer Mission (EOM) Team led by Chief Observer and Head of the Delegation to the 2023 Nigeria elections, Mr. Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament from the Republic of Ireland.

The EU had deployed its EOM following an invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) to monitor the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, as well as, the March 18 Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

The group’s preliminary and second reports released after the polls, had listed among other faults, the poor conduct of INEC in the political exercise, which it said, though improved in relation to previous exercise, suffered many shortcomings including voters’ intimidation, and suppression, violence and irregularities.

The EU team’s third and final report made public at a press conference in June listed a total of 23 recommendations in its third and final report on the February 25 and March 18 National and state elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), this year.

Out of the 23 recommendations put forward, the body listed six of them as priorities for the Federal Government.

Addressing a press conference, June 27, 2023, the Chief Observer of the Election Observation Mission (EOM), Mr. Andrews, said the European Union stands ready to support Nigerian stakeholders in the implementation of these recommendations.

“The six priority recommendations point to the need to: 1. Remove ambiguities in the law; 2. Establish a publicly accountable selection process for INEC members; 3. Ensure real-time publication of and access to election results; 4. Provide greater protection for media practitioners; 5. Address discrimination against women in political life; 6. Address impunity regarding electoral offences,” Mr. Andrews said.

According to Andrews, the 2023 General Elections did not ensure a well-run transparent and inclusive democratic process as assured by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), attributing it to shortcomings in law and electoral administration.

He further highlighted poor institutional planning, lack of accurate planning, intimidation, vote buying, failure to upload election results in real-time, just to mention a few, as some of the drawbacks of the elections.

Nevertheless, Andrews commended the involvement of civil societies in the elections, describing it as ‘exceptional’.

Also present at the public presentation was the Deputy Chief Observer, EU EOM, Mr. Thomas Boserup; the EU EOM’s Press Officer, Agnes Doka; and the now retired National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of the INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye, among others.

The mission carried out its work between January 11 and April 11 with a delegation of the European Parliament joining it for the observation of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, which held on February 25, and the Governorship/ State Houses of Assemblies elections of March 18.

The mission accredited a total of 110 observers from 25 EU Member States, as well as Norway, Switzerland, and Canada.

Meanwhile, receiving the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Isopi in his office, Monday, Wike told the envoy that the organisation’s report on the 2023 Presidential Election in Nigeria did not give the true reflection of the last election held in the country, ‘but rather created a wrong impression in the minds of the electorate, especially in Rivers State.’

According to Wike, the EU ‘was supposed to serve as an observer during the last election and not to present a report that would not give the true picture of Nigeria’s democracy.’

Wike, however, said Nigerian laws cannot be the same with those of the EU because they have different environments.

“I didn’t agree with the European Union over the last report on election in Nigeria. They are to observe; Nigerian laws can’t be the same with EU laws because they have different environments.

“In Rivers State, the EU’s report was different from what transpired there. How can people that believe in democracy and practise it be portrayed as people that don’t understand democracy?

“Our concern should be how to make the economy grow better. We have to co-operate and agree on specific areas of development in the Federal Capital Territory and the entire country.

“Foreign partners should be concerned about strategic development, irrespective of the areas,” said Wike.

In response, Isopi said the report was put together by independent observers and ‘has nothing to do with her own operations,’ as she, however, pledged the European Union’s commitment to work with the minister to boost development in the territory and beyond.