The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has berated the European Union, over its report on the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria.
on Monday, October 9, came down hard on the European Union (EU) over its report on the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.
Mr Wike made this known while receiving the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, who paid him a working visit in his office, in Abuja on Monday, October 9, 2023.
According to him, the report did not give the true position of the last election held in the country but created a wrong impression on the minds of the electorate, especially in Rivers State.
The minister noted that the EU was supposed to serve as an observer during the election, and not to present a report that would not portray the true picture of Nigerian democracy.
It would be recalled that the European Union Election Observation Mission, through the Chief Observer, Barry Andres had in June presented its final report on the last Nigerian general elections to the Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, and highlighted six priority areas with recommendations.
However, Mr Wike said 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 as EU laws because they have different environments.
“In Rivers State, the EU’s report was different from what transpired there. How can people who believe in democracy and practice it, be portrayed as people who 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 with strategic development irrespective of the areas,” Wike said.
In her response, European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, said the report was put together by independent observers and has nothing to do with her operations.
She however pledged the Union’s commitment to work with the Minister to boost development in the Federal Capital Territory and beyond.
