In a press conference held by the Labour Party and the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, the Director-General, Balogun Akin Osuntokun, addressed the media to discuss the final reports from various election observer groups. The conference shed light on the deeply flawed nature of the 2023 Presidential Elections, highlighting widespread fraud, manipulation, and democratic impediments. The reports of international and local observers exposed the extent of irregularities, calling into question the credibility of the election and emphasizing the need for legal rectification and correction.
The Director General, Balogun Akin Osuntokun while commending the press for their dedication towards covering the unfolding events of the 2023 Presidential Elections, Osuntokun stated that the failure to address recurring national problems stems from lack of effective solutions and the complacent hopelessness of the people. He stressed the importance of pursuing legal remedies to ensure that the will of the people, as expressed in the election, is upheld.
Osuntokun highlighted that despite the administrative formalities following the election, it remains under legal contest and cannot be concluded until the legal processes have been exhausted. He emphasized the significance of the 2023 elections as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s electoral, political, and developmental history, with the nation and the international community standing united against electoral fraud and the manipulation of the people’s will.
Osuntokun maintained the consistency among the independent reports of different observer missions, as they unanimously declared that the 2023 elections fell short of citizens’ expectations, legal regulations, and international standards. The reports highlighted deficiencies in election administration, including inefficient management of permanent voter cards distribution, operational and logistical failures, malfunctioning of election technology, lack of transparent results collation and declaration process, and poor crisis communication.
The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room’s comprehensive report described the elections as a missed opportunity for Nigeria’s democratic development. It further expressed that public confidence in the credibility of the electoral process and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been gravely shaken and called for extraordinary efforts to re-establish trust.
The reports also criticized INEC’s handling of the collation process and its failure to consider appeals for the review of results in light of technology malfunctions. The reports from international observers, such as the NDI-NRI and the European Union, also pointed out significant logistical, technological, and communication failures by INEC, divisive rhetoric by political parties, political violence, and regional disparities in electoral integrity.
Incidents of violence, killings, and disruptions were recorded in several states, which further marred the electoral process. The ECOWAS Election Observer Mission deplored the loss of life and recommended identifying and prosecuting those responsible for electoral violence or manipulation.
Osuntokun condemned the negative responses to the EU report and other observer reports by the spokesperson of the APC administration and other ill-informed individuals. He criticized their selective celebration of the 2019 election reports from the same observer groups, highlighting the inconsistency and discord with the nation’s mood.
While stressing the need for the judiciary to critically examine the evidence, the law, and the flawed election processes to reach a legally correct and widely accepted verdict, he however called on Labour party supporters to follow the legal process patiently and peacefully until a final resolution is reached.
The director-general further commended the courage and dedication of various election observer groups, both local and international, who monitored the elections.without any unbiased or cover up report.