The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised objections to the final report of the European Union observer team regarding Nigeria’s 2023 general election. 

The executive director of MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, labelled the report as an imperialist agenda in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Akintola criticised the chief observer of the European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM), Barry Andrews, for presenting a report that heavily criticised Nigeria’s electoral system. 

According to him, the report seemed to have a hidden motive of inciting anarchy in the country to gain political and economic influence during times of unrest.

“We are nonplussed by this blatant attempt to push an imperialist agenda down the throat of Nigerians,” said Mr Akintola. “The report is a premeditated attempt at inciting anarchy in the country with the hope of gaining political and economic influence at the outbreak of commotion.” 

Mr Akintola argued that the EU EOM report starkly contrasted the reports produced by other election monitoring groups, such as the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI). 

He pointed out that the NDI/IRI’s report, led by former Malawian president Joyce Banda and consisted of 40 observers from 20 countries, did not create any confusion or discord.

Mr Akintola added, “Why is the EU EOM report a different cup of tea? Is this group trying to tell the world that the Commonwealth Observer Group led by Thabo Mbeki, which also covered the elections, is blind? The African Union had its team, and so did the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) observer team led by Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan.”

Mr Akintola urged Nigerians not to allow the EU EOM report to destabilise the country, alleging that imperialists would not provide guidance that benefits Nigeria but rather attempt to sow division. 

(NAN)