The European Union has faulted the way and manner the elections in Nigeria was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, saying it calls for improvement.
The elections which held on February 25 this year and led to the emergence of the candidate for the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu as the winner were marred by problems that reduced public trust in electoral processes, European Union observers said in a final report, urging reforms to enhance transparency and accountability.
President Bola Tinubu won the disputed February vote, whose result is being challenged in court by his two main rivals.
According to reports by Reuters, the EU mission said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should improve in six priority areas, including removing ambiguities in electoral law, ensuring real-time publication of and access to election results and clamping down on electoral offences.
“Shortcomings in law and electoral administration hindered the conduct of well-run and inclusive elections and damaged trust in INEC,” said the report seen by Reuters on Wednesday.
“A lack of transparency and operational failures reduced trust in the process and challenged the right to vote.”
INEC has described the assessment as ‘unfair’, cllaiming that the Commission experienced some glitches on the day of the election, reports say.
With reports from Reuters
