The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has faulted the European Union (EU) on its report on the 2023 Presidential Election in Nigeria.
The FCT minister said the report did not give the true reflection of the last election held in the country, but rather created a wrong impression in the minds of the electorate, especially in Rivers State, Southern Nigeria.
Barr. Wike made his position known when the EU ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
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 Nigeria’s democracy.
READ MORE: EU Election Observation Mission Presents Final Report, Makes 23 Recommendations
It would be recalled that the European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM), through the chief observer, Barry Andrews, had in June presented its final report on the last Nigerian general elections and highlighted six priority areas with recommendations.
Wike, however, said Nigerian laws can not be the same with those of the EU because they have different environments.
“I didn’t agree with the European Union over the last report on 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 co-operate 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,” said Wike.
Responding, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, said the report was put together by independent observers and has nothing to do with her own operations.
She pledged the European Union’s commitment to work with the minister to boost development in the territory and beyond.
