The European Union Election Observation Mission says multiple incidents of thuggery and intimidation marred polling in various locations, especially across the country with 21 fatalities. The attacks targeted voters, INEC personnel, citizen observers, and journalists.
Head of the EU Election Observation Mission, Barry Andrews, said this during the Second Preliminary Statement on the 2023 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Andrews also said that most polling units opened with materials and personnel deployed on time and there were fewer problems with the BVAS which was very functional while there were fewer cases of vote-buying.
Barry Andrews added that in several states, there was an abuse of incumbency that gave undue advantage to the party in power.
The mission said it also observed under-representation of women in Nigeria’s politics and a lack of internal party policies.
The EU EOM will submit its final report in the next two months.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
