Vox populi: 2023 election results reflect will of the people — US Report

…As Report fingers Tinubu’s administration for allegedly appointing corrupt individuals into public office

Despite widespread irregularities alleged by opposition parties, a report on Human Rights Practices by the US Govt has affirmed the results of the elections as a reflection of the will of the people.

According to the report, the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) intimidated voters and suppressed their votes in Igbo-dominated areas of Lagos, during the March 2023 governorship election.

This was revealed in the report published by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, US Department of State, stressing human rights practices and violations in different countries, including Nigeria.

“National elections were widely reported to have reflected the will of voters, despite technical and logistical difficulties, and some irregularities,” the report stated.

“Many independent observers assessing the results of the presidential, legislative, and state-level elections during the year reflected the will of voters, despite reports of voter suppression and vote buying, campaigning at polling stations, lack of ballot secrecy, violence, and intimidation.

“During the March 18 state election in Lagos, All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters reportedly intimidated and suppressed voters in Igbo-dominated areas, which Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi won in the February 25 national election.

“Viral videos on social media showed APC supporters in Ojo (a LGA in Lagos) threatening to attack ethnic Igbo voters presumed to be pro-Obi.

“In Eti-Osa, APC supporters also attacked journalists and, in some cases, shut down voting and prevented non-Yoruba voters from accessing polls. They similarly destroyed property and physically blocked voters in Amuwo-Odofin.

“According to videos posted on social media, police officers were present but failed to respond to attacks.”

Speaking about the corruption in the government, the report stated the menace has not been totally addressed as some of the corrupt officials are appointed into public places.

“In August, President Tinubu appointed former Governor Abubakar Bagudu, the Minister of Budget, despite Bagudu’s widely reported history of helping then-President Sani Abacha steal hundreds of millions of dollars from the government in the 1990s,” the report said.

“Police arrested former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele on June 10 and charged him and a co-defendant with defrauding the government of 6.5 billion naira ($10.4 million), later reduced to 1.6 billion naira ($2.5 million),” the report read.

Meanwhile reacting to the report, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated it does not need any external body to validate the outcome of the last general elections.

While welcoming the report, the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party, Nze Chidi Duru said that the party had since moved on and is concentrating on developing Nigeria’s electoral democracy.

He said, “It (the report) is a welcome development but I want to restate that we do not need any external validation on the outcome of the 2023 general election. That election, as far as the party is concerned and as far as the people of Nigeria are concerned, is now behind us and we are looking forward to the 2027 general election.

“All the infrastructure of government at all levels whether it is at the federal, state, local government or ward level are already in place. Our councilors, National Assembly members and governors have been elected and are in place. Where there are issues arising from that election, those elections have been contested at the courts and we know that the courts have heard and given their well considered ruling. So, we have gone beyond that.

“We also believe improvement, development and change are constant things and then as a government, we will continue to encourage and fund INEC in a way that empowers them to be able to further improve the electoral process in Nigeria.

“As we continue to march on the path of democracy, we hope to continue to conduct elections that would reflect the will of Nigerians.

“So, in a nutshell, as much as this is welcome, we do not need any external validation. Elections have been conducted in 2023 and those elected have assumed offices and where there are disputes, they were taken to courts and the issues have been resolved.”