Despite irregularities, 2023 elections reflected the will of Nigerians — U.S. Report

Despite irregularities, 2023 elections reflected the will of Nigerians — U.S. Report 

The 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices by the US has revealed that the Nigeria’s last year’s general election which produced President Bola Tinubu reflected the will of the electorate despite widespread irregularities. 

According to the report, the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) intimidated voters and suppressed their votes in Igbo-dominated areas of Lagos, during the March 2023 governorship election. This was revealed in the report published by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, US Department of State, stressing human rights practices and violations in different countries, including Nigeria.

“National elections were widely reported to have reflected the will of voters, despite technical and logistical difficulties, and some irregularities,” the report stated. Many independent observers assessed the results of the presidential, legislative, and state-level elections during the year reflected the will of voters, despite reports of voter suppression and vote buying, campaigning at polling stations, lack of ballot secrecy, violence, and intimidation.

During the March 18 state election in Lagos, All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters reportedly intimidated and suppressed voters in Igbo-dominated areas, which Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi won in the February 25 national election. Viral videos on social media showed APC supporters in Ojo (a LGA in Lagos) threatening to attack ethnic Igbo voters presumed to be pro-Obi.