2019 Polls: ‘We’ve Heard You,’ Presidency Reacts To EU Observers’ Report

The Presidency says it has heard the observations and recommendations made by the European Union Election Observation Mission on the 2019 general elections and ways to improve future polls.

In the 88-page EU Observers report, the group handed out 30 recommendations to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) based on various glitches it noticed in the last election

From page 53 to 71 of the report, the group recommended among other things that “Comprehensive legal regulation be established for the cancellation of voting in polling units, with clear grounds specified, timeframes elaborated, and requirements made for transparency.”

THE WHISTLER earlier reported that the UE Observers faulted INEC’s alleged lack of transparency in conducting the 2019 elections, while also faulting the leading parties, especially the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), for abusing the power of incumbency at federal and state levels.

“Nigeria’s 2019 general elections were marked by severe operational and transparency shortcomings, electoral security problems, and low turnout.

“The leading parties were at fault in not reining in acts of violence and intimidation by supporters, and in abusing incumbency at federal and state levels,” the report said.

As a recommendation to “enhance integrity and confidence in INEC,” the observer group advised the electoral body to work with “full transparency, making information of public interest immediately and easily accessible, including on its website. This includes decisions, voter registration information, PVC distribution and polling data manuals for officials and results”

Reacting to the observations through President Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency promised to ensure implementation of the recommendations.

“The administration of President Buhari will work with all Nigerian citizens, state institutions, parties, civil society, the media and other experts to make sure that the improvements recommended by the EU are implemented, and that these areas of concern are addressed,” said Shehu.

“It is noteworthy that INEC is in receipt of a number of recommendations that form a part of the EU report.

“The Presidency assures that the Commission is in safe hands and happy that they are currently engaged in root and branch reviews of the 2019 general elections and will input lessons learned into its recommendations for electoral and constitutional reforms.

“We believe that the commission conducted a good election and will continue to improve on its processes and procedures.

“While it is regretted that the elections in a few parts of the country witnessed some violence, among other shortcomings highlighted by the EU, we note however that none of these hitches affected the overall outcome of the elections.

The Presidency added that, “thankfully, EU did not question the results of the presidential election. This is further proof that the polls reflected the overall will of Nigerians, and that the world is solidly behind the election of President Buhari for a second term.”