Presidency Rejects EU’s Allegations Of Electoral Misconduct

The presidency has vehemently dismissed the conclusions drawn by the European Union (EU) regarding the 2023 general elections.

Special Adviser on communications, strategy and special duties to President Bola Tinubu, Dele Alake, in a statement on Sunday expressed strong objections to the EU’s alleged attempts to discredit the elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Alake emphasized that the presidential election, won by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was transparent, fair, and the most well-organized since Nigeria’s transition to civil rule in 1999.

He said “sometimes in May, we alerted the nation, through a press statement, to the plan by a continental multi-lateral institution to discredit the 2023 general elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“The main target was the presidential election, clearly and fairly won by the then candidate of All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“While we did not mention the name of the organisation in the said statement, we made it abundantly clear to Nigerians how this foreign institution had been unrelenting in its assault on the credibility of the electoral process, the sovereignty of our country and on our ability as a people to organise ourselves.

“We find it preposterous and unconscionable that in this day and age, any foreign organisation of whatever hue can continue to insist on its own yardstick and assessment as the only way to determine the credibility and transparency of our elections.

“Now that the organisation has submitted what it claimed to be its final report on the elections, we can now categorically let Nigerians and the entire world know that we were not unaware of the machinations of the European Union to sustain its, largely, unfounded bias and claims on the election outcomes.

“For emphasis, we want to reiterate that the 2023 general elections, most especially the presidential election, won by President Bola Tinubu/All Progressives Congress, were credible, peaceful, free, fair and the best organised general elections in Nigeria since 1999.

“There is no substantial evidence provided by the European Union or any foreign and local organisation that is viable enough to impeach the integrity of the 2023 election outcomes.

He criticized the limited scope of the EU’s assessment, highlighting the fact that their observers monitored the elections through only 11 analysts based in Abuja and 40 observers spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Alake questioned the credibility of the EU’s conclusions, given their limited coverage of the vast number of polling units, which amounted to over 176,000 across Nigeria.

Alake expressed doubts about the EU’s independence and suggested that their report relied more on rumors, uninformed social media commentaries, and opposition talking heads.

He argued that the EU’s final report seemed to sustain the same biased stance as their preliminary report released in March, casting doubts on its objectivity.

He firmly rejected any insinuation or claim suggesting that the 2023 elections were fraudulent.

Alake emphasized that numerous non-partisan foreign and local observers, including the African Union, ECOWAS, Commonwealth Observer Mission, and the Nigerian Bar Association, had validated the credibility and transparency of the elections.

Alake highlighted the comprehensive report by the Nigerian Bar Association, which deployed over 1,000 observers throughout the country. According to their assessment, 91.8% of Nigerians rated the conduct of the national and state elections as credible and satisfactory.

He stressed that such overwhelming citizen satisfaction should be celebrated worldwide.

He commended the INEC for defending the integrity of the election and rejecting the false narratives presented in the EU report.

“It is heart-warming that INEC, through its National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, has come out to defend the integrity of the election it conducted by rejecting the false narratives in the EU report,” he said .

He also acknowledged INEC’s commitment to embracing ideas, innovations, and reforms aimed at further enhancing the integrity and credibility of the electoral process.

With the elections concluded, Alake said President Tinubu is now focused on the arduous task of nation-building.

He said despite ongoing legal challenges, Nigerians have expressed satisfaction with President Tinubu’s decisive leadership and his efforts to redirect the country towards fiscal sustainability and socio-economic reforms within just one month in office.

He called upon the EU and other foreign interests to approach their assessments of Nigeria’s internal affairs with objectivity, allowing the country to move forward without undue interference.

“As a country, we have put the elections behind us. President Tinubu is facing the arduous task of nation-building, while those who have reasons to challenge the process continue to do so through the courts.

“In just one month in office, Nigerians appear satisfied with the decisive leadership of President Tinubu and the manner he is redirecting the country to the path of fiscal sustainability and socio-economic reforms.

“We urge the EU and other foreign interests to be objective in all their assessments of the internal affairs of our country and allow Nigeria to breathe,” he said.