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2023 presidential election reflects the will of Nigerians – US Report
It stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters intimidated voters and suppressed their votes during the March 2023 governorship election in Igbo-dominated areas of Lagos.
The US Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour released a report in 2023 that highlighted human rights practices and violations in various countries, including Nigeria.
It stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters intimidated voters and suppressed their votes during the March 2023 governorship election in Igbo-dominated areas of Lagos.
The report concluded that Nigeria’s general election last year, which resulted in President Bola Tinubu, reflected the will of the electorate despite numerous irregularities.
“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.
“In Eti-Osa, APC supporters also attacked journalists and, in some cases, shut down voting and prevented non-Yoruba voters from accessing polls. They similarly destroyed property and physically blocked voters in Amuwo-Odofin.
“According to videos posted on social media, police officers were present but failed to respond to attacks.”
Speaking about the corruption in the government, the report stated the menace has not been totally addressed as some of the corrupt officials are appointed into public places.
“In August, President Tinubu appointed former Governor Abubakar Bagudu, the Minister of Budget, despite Bagudu’s widely reported history of helping then-President Sani Abacha steal hundreds of millions of dollars from the government in the 1990s,” the report said.
“Police arrested former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele on June 10 and charged him and a co-defendant with defrauding the government of 6.5 billion naira ($10.4 million), later reduced to 1.6 billion naira ($2.5 million).”
