EU election observers visit Abuja and stating that they would like to see credible polls next year

EUROPEAN Union (EU) election observers have visited Nigeria ahead of next year's general elections and stated that they would like to see free and fair credible polls that would allow the results to be accepted worldwide.

In 2023, Nigeria will gold elections and in the run-up to the polls, the EU election observation mission recently visited Nigeria. Maria Arena, the head of the group, said that the international community wants Nigeria to conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2023.

Yesterday,  she led a delegation to visit Senator Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and  noted that following the conduct of the 2019 elections, the group submitted a report of its findings to relevant stakeholders  with 30 recommendations on how to improve the electoral process in subsequent elections. Ms Arena added that the delegation was at the PDP headquarters to ascertain the level of preparations for 2023 polls and to see how the party has fared with regards the implementation of the recommendations.

Ms Arena said: “I was the chief observer for the 2019 election. As you know, we made a report with 30 recommendations and this follow up mission, we want to assess how these recommendations have been taken on board by different authorities in the country.

“We have met with civil society, media, the government and the political parties and it is important because you are playing a very important role in the electoral process. So for us, it is important to listen to you about the main concern that you have concerning free elections in the country.

Senator Ayu thanked the EU delegation for the visit and reminded them that the PDP was formed in 1998 to act as opposition to dictatorship. He added:  “We are a party that believes firmly in democracy, including the processes.

"It is not just the votes that we believe should count, we believe also that we should be seen to be doing what we say. So, we have consistently worked hard as a broad based political party to mobilise people, not just to canvass for votes but to vote for the party and to ensure that they defend the votes against any anti democratic tendencies.

“It is on that note that we willingly handed over power in 2015 when we lost. However, since then, we have seen a decline in democratic values and ethos."