“The observations and proposals should be applauded as key international contribution to development of democracy in Nigeria,” the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) said of the EU EOM’s 2023 general election study. CNPP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Comrade James Ezema said, “Those who are kicking against the report are doing so based on petty political considerations and conveniences.”
CNPP recalled that EU EOM Chief Observer Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament, had rightly stated that in the build-up to the 2023 general election, Nigerian citizens demonstrated a clear commitment to the democratic process, but the election exposed enduring systemic weaknesses and signalled a need for further legal and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability.
“The EU election observation report was an honest, fair, objective and truthful study that would improve Nigerian democracy, particularly when the suggestions are implemented in good faith,” the statement said. In the first place, the international organisation was asked by the Federal Government to witness the 2023 general election. “Why did the All Progressives Congress (APC) invite the EU Election Observation Mission if they weren’t going to report on the general election? The EU has also supported and granted government agencies and civil society organisations in Nigeria to enhance its democratic process.
“If they were not accused of bias while supporting our electoral system all these years, why should their report on the 2023 general election be labelled partial? We anticipated the present government to receive the report, evaluate it, and address EU EOM concerns to avoid repeat occurrences.” CNPP said that every Nigerian who eagerly participated in the 2023 elections on February 25 and March 18 experienced some of the issues voters encountered, including logistic challenges, voting intimidation, and gender suppression.
“These were the same challenges observed by the EU EOM to Nigeria and should be seen as part of international efforts towards improving on the Nigerian electoral process to ensure further legal and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability just as the observers recommended,” the group said.
