Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, criticized the European Union (EU) on Monday for their analysis of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria.
Wike claimed that the report, although failing to accurately portray the results of the most recent election held in the nation, gave the wrong impression to the public, particularly in Rivers State.
When Samuela Isopi, the EU ambassador to Nigeria, paid him a working visit in his office, Wike conveyed his displeasure.
According to the minister, the EU’s role during the most recent election was to act as an observer and not to produce a report that did not accurately represent Nigerian democracy.
Through Chief Observer Barry Andres, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) submitted its final report on the most recent general elections in Nigeria in June. The study outlined six key areas and included suggestions.
However, Wike asserted that due of the differences in the two regions’ surroundings, Nigerian laws cannot be the same as those of the EU.
He said:
“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, 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.”
Responding, Samuela Isopi, said the report was put together by independent observers and has nothing to do with her own operations.
She pledged commitment to work with the minister to boost development in the territory and beyond.