The Chief Observer of the EU EOM, Maria Arena, told a news conference in Abuja on Monday that the reforms should tackle the “systemic failings and electoral security problems of the last few weeks and months” in Nigeria.
She noted that while there were operational improvements in the 9th March elections, “these were overshadowed by a troubling electoral security environment, abuse of incumbency and institutional failings. We echo the view of leading civil society organisations that say that there is an urgent need to restore faith in the electoral process”.
On the low turnout of voters, she said: “While there can be many reasons for a low turnout, and it is not for me to speculate, it is surely disappointing that, overall, only a relatively small portion of what is by far and away Africa’s largest electorate actually cast a vote on both election days.”
She expressed the hope that after these elections, parties and institutions should look at what is needed to make voters want to take part in elections.
According to her, as the 2019 elections in Nigeria have demonstrated, there are important improvements to be made.
“Elections can always be better. The systemic problems evident in the 2019 electoral process show the need for an inclusive national discussion on reform for greater electoral integrity and participation,” she said.
On the collation of results, the EU observer team said: “Overall, the process was not in line with international standards for access to information and public accountability. Polling for the federal elections was cancelled in a large number of polling units across the country, covering nearly 2.8 million registered voters.
“This was four times more than in 2015. While this number did not affect the outcome given the margin of win, this was not a good process. INEC did not provide sufficient information on these cancellations, the specific reasons for them, and the precise local government areas affected. This undermines public confidence in the process.
“There were also some inconsistent numbers in relation to collation, specifically, a large difference between the number of registered voters INEC had announced back in January and the lower number then announced by returning officers at state level during the collation of the presidential results. Nearly one point seven (1.7) million less in total,” she added.
Arena advised that during any supplementary elections, the “election administration should be able to do its work freely, security personnel need to work neutrally, and parties need to call their supporters to be calm and to respect the process”.