The European Union has rated Nigeria’s electoral system poorly saying it has “systemic failings”.
The Union’s election observer group made the assessment on Monday following last weekend’s governorship elections.
The elections were marred by violence and low turnout in some states. The EU group says the electoral system needs serious reform.
Maria Arena, chief of the EU mission, told reporters in the capital Abuja on Monday that “The systemic failings and electoral security problems of the last few weeks and months show that there is real need for serious reform in Nigeria.”
Arena adds that there was improper use of state media for campaigning stressing on several “institutional failings”.
INEC Officials attending to voters in various locations across the Country #NigeriaDecides2019 pic.twitter.com/d4gksyNnk6
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) March 9, 2019
The elections were held in 29 states across the country weeks after the presidential election was held.
But elections did not take place in seven states namely, Kogi, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Edo and Anambra.
Governors in those states have not finished their four-year terms yet.
President Muhammadu Buhari won the Presidential election although his rival from the opposition PDP, Atiku Abubakar disputes the results.
Votes are still being collated in some states with final results expected this week.
Gubernatorial elections in Nigeria are keenly contested between the ruling APC and opposition PDP.
Source: Africafeeds.com
