Ben Adoga, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday faulted the European Union over its observers’ report on the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.
Wike said the report did not give the true position of the last election held in the country and that it created a wrong impression on the minds of the electorate, especially in Rivers State.
He made his dissatisfaction known when the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, paid him a visit in his office.
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 Nigerian democracy.
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM), through the chief observer, Barry Andres had in June presented its final report on the last Nigerian general elections which was damning and highlighted six priority areas with recommendations.
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Wike, however, said Nigerian laws can’t be the same as those of the EU because they have a different environment.
“I didn’t agree with the European Union over the last report on elections in Nigeria. They are to observe, that 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 believe in democracy and practice it, if we are portrayed as people that don’t understand democracy?”
Talking on her visit to the FCT Minister, Wike said, “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, European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi said the report was put together by independent observers and has nothing to do with her operations.
•EU pledges boost in FCT devt
The EU has pledged its support to boost the development of the FCT.
The Ambassador said that a team of investors from different European countries would soon be in Abuja, to seek for opportunities to invest.
Isopi disclosed that many members of the European Union and Investors have been involved in several agricultural value chain developments in the country.
She pledged the Union’s commitment to work with the Minister to boost development in the territory and beyond.
