PEPC admits EU-EOM report, CNPP and TMG back document
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A final report by the European Union Observation Mission (EU-EOM) which contains criticism of the way the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted this year’s vote has been admitted in evidence by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting in Abuja.
The report, which also contains recommendations on how to improve Nigeria’s electoral process, was tendered in the court on Monday by INEC IT Director Lawrence Bayode during cross-examination by Chris Uche, SAN, counsel for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
Bayode testified as a witness for the INEC and the court admitted the evidence despite objection by the legal teams of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.
Both the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) have applauded the report, saying it would help deepen democracy in the country.
CNPP slams those objecting to report as selfish actors
A statement issued by CNPP Deputy National Publicity Secretary James Ezema said those objecting to the report are doing so based on their political considerations and conveniences, per reporting by The Guardian.
In reaction to the report, Presidential spokesman Dele Alake had said Aso Rock “strongly rejects, in its entirety, any notion and idea from any organisation, group and individual remotely suggesting that the 2023 election was fraudulent.”
Alake alleged the EU-EOM merely relied on prejudiced and uninformed social media commentaries and opposition talking heads to arrive at its conclusions, and failed to provide substantial evidence to question the integrity of the election result.
But CNPP countered “the EU election observation report was a sincere, unbiased, impartial and factual report that will deepen Nigeria’s democracy, especially when the recommendations are taken in good faith.
“In the first place, the international body was invited by the federal government to observe the 2023 general elections.
“Government is a continuum, and if the EU Mission was not expected to provide useful report on the elections, why did the All Progressives Congress government invite them?
“Moreover, the EU has been contributing to development of Nigeria’s democratic process over the years, through support and grants to both government agencies and civil society organisations.
“If they were not accused of bias while they were supporting our electoral system all these years, why should their report on the 2023 general elections be tagged partial?”
CNPP said it expects Tinubu to “receive the report, study it, and find ways to address issues the EU-EOM raised to prevent future occurrences.”
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EU-EOM report backs our position, says TMG
TMG, a civil society election observation body, expressed concern over the dismissal of the report by the INEC and the federal government.
TMG Chairman Auwal Rasfanjani reiterated local observers and civil society groups had also raised similar concerns about gaps in the electoral process.
“The recommendations by the European Union align with views of many civil society groups and local observers,´ Rasfanjani said in a statement, per The Guardian.
“It is imperative that the government and INEC review those recommendations and work towards addressing gaps in the electoral processes, to make our electoral system more transparent, accountable and participatory, to restore confidence in the process.
TMG urged Tinubu to “take courage and admit to shortcomings with the electoral process, which is evident by violence and several election petitions going on in the country and reduction in Nigerians’ participation in the polls.
“He should emulate the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua who admitted that there were gaps in his election and committed to reform[ing] the electoral system.
“Therefore, TMG urges President Tinubu to ensure effective reform.”