The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Samuela Isopi has disowned the report of the European Union Election Observation Mission on the outcome of the 2023 elections in Nigeria.
According to the Ambassador, the Election Observation Mission was an independent observation mission deployed by the European Union at the request of the Nigerian government.
The Ambassador, who was reacting to the complaints laid by the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike, when he received her in audience in Abuja today, October 9, said that the purpose of the mission and many other missions in other countries, is to assess the process of the elections against international agreements and treaties signed and ratified by Nigeria.
She said that the mission was not to determine whether the elections were legitimate or not but to analyze the process and afterwards make recommendations.
According to her, the controversial report offered 26 recommendations.
She told the minister that EU is currently refocusing its cooperation towards improving agricultural value chains to assist with the economic diversification agenda of Nigeria and that it is also working on renewable energy projects in the country.
Nyeson Wike had expressed his reservation on the actions of the EU for what he termed interference with the internal affairs of Nigeria.
The Minister who observed that the Mission did not have adequate personnel in the country to cover the elections, particularly in Rivers State, said that EU Mission’s position that the government stifled the opposition in the State was inaccurate.
“Even though we have passed that era, but I think that I sincerely do not agree with the European Union on their stand on the past election in Nigeria.
“I do seriously take exception to their stand because we thought there is no need for you to interfere in Nigeria. “Rather, you observe and make a recommendation. And your interference came when there were electoral tribunals going on.
“Like in Rivers State, I asked how many of you were in Rivers State to visit the 6,886 or thereabout number of polling units.
“Sometimes, you send in one or two persons and I ask you, how do you know. So, if you have seen some infractions in about 20 polling units, is that enough to make a general conclusion? I felt that as a sitting Governor, you were trying to indict me of not allowing the State to have a free democratic process. That is not correct.”
The Minister however stressed that the priority now is how the EU can support Nigeria to grow her economy and create jobs to positively impact the lives of the citizens.
