In a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Mr. Dele Alake, titled "We reject European Union's conclusions on 2023 general elections," Tinubu criticized the report, considering it a flawed product of inadequate research that heavily relied on the views of a limited number of observers.
Tinubu highlighted that the report appeared to be biased and aimed to perpetuate the premature denunciation already evident in the EU's preliminary report released in March.
He argued that the "jaundiced report" was based on the opinions of fewer than 50 observers, which did not accurately represent the overall election process.
The President pointed out that other reputable bodies, such as the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had commended the conduct and outcome of the elections. This, according to Tinubu, further weakened the credibility of the EU's report and raised doubts about its objectivity.
Earlier, in May, Tinubu's office had alerted the nation to the intentions of a continental multi-lateral institution to discredit the 2023 general elections, specifically targeting the presidential election, which he had won as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While the organization's name was not mentioned in the statement, it was clear that the foreign institution had persistently attacked the credibility of Nigeria's electoral process and its sovereignty.
The statement emphasized the nation's commitment to organizing transparent and credible elections, and Tinubu's team stood firm in challenging any attempts to undermine the electoral process or cast doubt on Nigeria's ability to hold fair elections.
Despite the EU report, Tinubu and his team remained confident in the legitimacy of the election and the integrity of the electoral process, as recognized and praised by various local entities.
The statement further stressed, “We find it preposterous and unconscionable that in this day and age, any foreign organisation of whatever hue can continue to insist on its own yardstick and assessment as the only way to determine the credibility and transparency of our elections."
