NIGERIA’S recent elections were plagued by issues that eroded public trust in the electoral process, according to a final report by European Union observers. The report stressed the need for reforms to enhance transparency and accountability in future elections. President Bola Tinubu emerged as the winner of the disputed February vote, although his victory is currently being challenged in court by his two main rivals.
The EU mission identified six priority areas in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should improve, including clarifying ambiguities in electoral laws, ensuring real-time publication and access to election results, and cracking down on electoral offenses.
The report, obtained by Reuters, stated, ‘Shortcomings in law and electoral administration hindered the conduct of well-run and inclusive elections and damaged trust in INEC.’ It further highlighted that a lack of transparency and operational failures diminished confidence in the electoral process and undermined the right to vote.
The February election witnessed the lowest voter turnout since the end of military rule in 1999, signalling widespread disillusionment among the Nigerian populace. The INEC was not immediately available for comment on the EU mission report. However, an INEC spokesman, in a statement to local TV, deemed the report ‘unfair’ and attributed the delay in uploading presidential election results to a system glitch.
The EU’s call for reforms echoes the need for Nigeria to address the identified shortcomings and strengthen its electoral processes to regain public trust and ensure the integrity of future elections.
