Ezekwesili also said election observation is a tool for improving elections and building public confidence
By Kehinde Okeowo
Activist and Nigeria’s former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili has commended the European Union Election Observation Mission, for restoring confidence in election monitoring around the world.
She made this known on Tuesday in a statement released via her verified Twitter handle, where she noted that, unlike other poll reports that traded off electoral credibility, its report on the 2023 Nigeria election was quite objective.
Ezekwesili also noted that election observation is a tool for improving the quality of elections and building public confidence in electoral processes.
She went on to identify other benefits of election monitoring, saying she is throwing her weight behind the report because of its credibility.
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Taking to her social media page, she wrote, “The @euinNigeria surprisingly restored a measure of confidence in election monitoring around the world by not mincing words at all in their European Union Election Observation Mission NIGERIA 2023 Final Report.
“Here’s how the @UN regards Elections Observation:
“Why observe elections?
“Election observation is a valuable tool for improving the quality of elections. Observers help build public confidence in the honesty of electoral processes.
“Observation can help promote and protect the civil and political rights of participants in elections. It can lead to the correction of errors or weak practices, even while an election process is still underway. It can deter manipulation and fraud, or expose such problems if they do occur.
“When observers can issue positive reports, it builds trust in the democratic process and enhances the legitimacy of the governments that emerge from elections.
“Election observation by domestic groups encourages civic involvement in the political process. Following elections, reports and recommendations by observer groups can lead to changes and improvements in national law and practice.
“Those who follow global trends in election monitoring know that Observer Mission Reports were beginning to be cookie-cutters that seemed to trade-off electoral credibility.
“I highly recommend the EU Report… It did not trade off electoral credibility at all.
“It diverged from the global trend and restored confidence in Election Observation.”
