Buhari accepts EU report on 2019 elections and promises to act on its recommendations

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the findings of a recent report by the European Union (EU) which highlighted flaws in Nigeria's 2019 general elections and has promised to act on the recommendations made.

 

Last week, the EU observer mission released its report on Nigeria's elections, describing them as being increasingly marred by violence and intimidation. According to the EU, the role of security agencies became more contentious as the process progressed, which damaged the integrity of the electoral process and may deter future participation.

 

At least 58 people, including election officials, were killed in violence, according to the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of civic groups that monitored the vote. However, the elections were concluded and President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner with 56% of the vote, while his main challenger, former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party got 41% of the vote.

 

Reacting to the report, presidential spokesman Mallam Garba Shehu, promised that President Buhari would analyse it fully and act on the recommendations in the best interest of the country. He added that the EU observers were invited to the country by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) and welcomed by the government of President Buhari, indicating the administration’s good intentions, commitment to a pure democratic process and desire to improve on the next elections.

 

Mallam Shehu said: “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. 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 expressing regret that the elections in a few parts of the country witnessed some violence among other shortcomings highlighted by the EU, Mallam Shehu stated, however, that none of these hitches affected the overall outcome of the elections. According to Mallam Shehu, the EU report did not dispute the fact that President Buhari and the APC won the elections.

 

He added: "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.”

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