PDP, LP Dispute US Report Claiming 2023 Nigerian Elections Reflected Popular Will

The Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed strong opposition to the United States’ 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which concluded that Nigeria’s general elections reflected the will of its people despite allegations of irregularities. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigerian Presidency, however, welcomed the report, stating that they do not require external validation for their electoral success.

The US report, published by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, examined human rights practices in various countries, including Nigeria. It acknowledged technical and logistical difficulties in the 2023 elections, along with reports of voter suppression and violence, but ultimately declared that the elections reflected the will of the populace.

In response to the report, the LP and PDP criticized the findings, arguing that the elections were marred by significant issues, including vote-buying, violence, and intimidation. They highlighted that supporters of the APC suppressed votes in Igbo-dominated areas during the March 2023 governorship election in Lagos.

LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, criticized the report for downplaying these irregularities, pointing out that APC supporters suppressed votes in areas where Labour Party Presidential Candidate Peter Obi had previously won during the February 25 national election. Similarly, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, emphasized the party’s commitment to democracy and its opposition to a one-party state.

Despite the opposition parties’ criticisms, the APC and the Presidency were supportive of the US report. Deputy National Organizing Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, stated that the party welcomed the report but did not need external validation. He asserted that the 2023 election results were behind them, with elected officials already in place. He emphasized that the party’s focus is now on improving electoral processes for the 2027 general election.

The Presidency, through its Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, reiterated the APC’s stance, stating that the election was free and fair, dismissing allegations of voter suppression in Lagos. Onanuga also pointed out that no electoral system is entirely free of errors, emphasizing that Nigeria’s elections were conducted according to democratic principles.

Overall, while the US report praised Nigeria’s 2023 elections, the opposition parties’ reactions suggest a continuing debate on the legitimacy and transparency of the electoral process. The ruling APC, however, appears to view the report as a positive endorsement of its electoral successes, indicating a focus on future elections and electoral improvements.