Wike Knocks EU Over Report on 2023 Presidential Election
By Rita Elenwo
Minister of Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has faulted the European Union (EU) over its report on the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.
The minister gave the knock on Monday when he hosted the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, in Abuja.
He said the report was not only skewed but failed to give the true position of the last election held in Nigeria.
Wike also accused the EU of creating a wrong impression in the minds of the electorate especially in Rivers State.
The minister said the EU was supposed to serve as an observer during the last election and not to present a report that would not give the true picture of Nigerian democracy.
He noted that Nigerian laws can’t be the same as those of the EU because they have different environments.
“I didn’t agree with the European Union over the last report on the election in Nigeria. They are to observe. Nigerian laws can’t be the same with EU laws because they have different environments.
“In Rivers State, the EU’s report was different from what transpired there. How can people that believe in democracy and practise it be portrayed as people that don’t understand democracy?
Our concern should be how to make the economy grow better. We have to cooperate and agree on specific areas of development in the Federal Capital Territory and the entire country.
“Foreign partners should be concerned about strategic development irrespective of the areas,” Wike said.
In her response, Isopi said the report was put together by independent observers and had nothing to do with her own operations.
She pledged the EU’s commitment to work with Wike to boost development in the FCT and beyond.
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) had in June in its final report on the Nigerian general election, highlighted six priority areas with recommendations.
The report was presented by its chief observer, Barry Andres.
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