CNPP To FG: EU report of 2023 polls not biased

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has reacted to the final report of the European Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria on the 2023 general elections, saying that “the observations and recommendations should be commended as major international contribution to deepening of democracy in Nigeria.” In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the CNPP noted that “those who are kicking against the report are doing so based on mere political considerations and conveniences.” CNPP recalled that the EU EOM Chief Observer, Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parlia- ment, 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 therefore signal a need for further legal and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability.

The statement read in part: “The EU election observation report was a sincere, unbiased, impartial and factual report that will deepen Nigerian democracy, especially when the recommendations are taken in good faith. In the first place, the in- ternational body was invited by the Federal Government to observe the 2023 general election. “Government is a continuum and if the EU Election Observation Mission was not expected to provide useful report on the general elec- tion, why did the All Progressives Congress (APC) government invite them? Moreover, the EU has been contributing to the development of Nigeria’s democratic process over the years through support and grants to both government agencies and civil society organisations in the country.

“If they were not accused of bias, while they were supporting our elec- toral system all these years, why should their report on the 2023 gen- eral election be tagged as partial? We expected the current administration to receive the report, study it, and find ways to address issues the EU EOM raised to prevent future occurrences.” Noting that every Nigerian, who keenly participated in the 2023 elec- tions on February 25 and March 18, witnessed some of the challenges faced by voters, CNPP, particular cited logistic challenges, voter in- timidation and gender suppression as some of the challenges. According to the group, “these were the same challenges observed by the EU EOM to Nigeria and should be seen as part of interna- tional efforts towards improving on the Nigerian electoral process to en- sure further legal and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability just as the observers recommend- ed.”