In its final report on the 2023 elections, the European Union Observer Mission (EU-EOM) said that the outcome, especially the presidential poll, lacked transparency and inclusive democratic process as promised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The 94-page report was released in Abuja, last week, by the EU Chief Observer, Barry Andrews.
According to the report, the elections conducted by INEC, which climaxed with the declaration of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as President, was fraught with many irregularities, including damaging public confidence and trust in the electoral umpire.
However, the report acknowledged that some improvements were recorded during the polls, but were not enough to make the outcome substantially credible, free and fair as expected in a democracy. The report has since been submitted to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. The report aligns with that of two United States-based organisations, the National Democratic institute (NDI), and the International Republic Institute (IRI).
The joint report released by these two organisations said the 2023 elections were substantially marred by logistical failures, adding that while there were incremental improvements in election administration, increased competitiveness in the presidential race, quality engagement of the youth, among others, it fell short of citizens’ legitimate and reasonable expectations.
The NDI and IRI joint report further stated that with only 27 per cent of voter turnout during the election, and the president-elect emerged with only 37 per cent of the total votes cast, there is still room for improvement. They called for renewed dedication towards improving the democratic processes and providing the citizens with responsive and trusted institutions.
Specifically, the EU made 23 broad recommendations and six priority areas that the government and INEC should address. These include removing ambiguities in the electoral law, ensuring real-time publication of, and access to election results and clamping down on electoral offences. Additionally, the report says that shortcomings in law and electoral administration hindered basic issues that resulted in transparency and operational failures during the polls.
The report has attracted diverse reactions. For example, the two main opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party (LP), said the EU report “reflects the collusion between the federal government and INEC.” Similarly, the Transition Monitoring Group, lauded the report as an expression of the widespread concerns that greeted the outcome of the election, especially the presidential poll held on February 25.
The Chairman of the Monitoring Group, Auwal Musa Rasfanjani, said the EU’s assessment of the elections aligns with that of local observers and civil society groups that had earlier voiced their reservations about the conduct and outcome of the elections, especially the process. He also said that the electoral system needs to be more transparent, and accountable if confidence must be restored in the electoral system.
However, the presidency has dismissed the report, saying it was a “product of a poorly done desk job that heavily relied on few persons.” In a statement by presidential aide, Dele Alake, the presidency said the report was a reflection of a well- orchestrated plan to discredit the election, in particular, the presidential poll, won by Tinubu.
Alake alleged that the EU has been “unrelenting in its assault on the credibility of the electoral process, the sovereignty of the country and our ability as a people to organise ourselves,” adding that the report was “preposterous and unconscionable.” Amid objections, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, has admitted as exhibit, a certified true copy of the EU report and marked it as Exhibit RA6. The contentious part of the report states that the February 25 Presidential election “exposed enduring systemic weaknesses and signal the need for further legal and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness and accountability.”
In all, the EU’s report and other observer reports, of the 2023 elections reflect a fair assessment of the elections. No doubt, the 2023 elections fell short of standard parameters for credible polls. Therefore, the report should be seen as a wake-up call on the authorities to improve our electoral process.
There is need to implement the EU recommendations. Doing so will enhance the conduct of the upcoming off-cycle gubernatorial polls in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states in November. It is good that INEC, through its National Commissioner on Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, has promised to harmonise all the reports on the elections, and use the recommendations to correct the lapses experienced in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, and the March 18 governorship and state legislative elections. Above all, let our leaders muster the political will to sanitise our electoral system.