On Thursday, July 6, some supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) grounded activities at European Union (EU) office in Abuja.
The protesters demanded the withdrawal of the EU report on the 2023 general election.
The EU had condemned the polls in a comprehensive report, noting that it was short of international standards.
The EU observers also tongue-lashed the Independent National Electoral Commission for mishandling the elections and described APC chieftains Festus Keyamo and Femi Fani-Kayode, as fake news merchants.
Angered by the report, the ruling party mobilised its supporters to storm the office of the EU in the Nigerian capital.
The supporters warned that the EU report on the election could set the country ablaze.
Leader of the protesters, Lillian Ene Ogbole, said: “We will not henceforth condone any false report; we will not henceforth condone any manipulated report against our country.”
In reaction, some Nigerians berated the APC for trying to cast aspersions on the EU observers.
“The protest in front of the EU Embassy in Abuja over the election report is a hollow and futile noise of conscienceless Abuja protest merchants.
“They are masquerades of the decadence in our country. The EU report is a compass that should guide us to perfect our system,” Senator Shehu Sani wrote on Twitter.
Shehu Gazali Sadiq, a public opinion commentator, wrote:
“I love that APC morons are protesting against the EU in Abuja. The protest will make the report more popular. Those unaware of the report will become aware and seek to read it. It’s an own goal.”
Rinu Oduala, a famous human rights activist, accused the ruling party of trying to blackmail the EU observers.
Her words:
“APC is trying to blackmail the EU Election Observation Mission with “sovereignty” and “let us be” taunts. Absolutely silly! We will organise pro-EU EOM report protests in return. Let all of us meet in Abuja.”
Chukwuemeka Nnaneya, a Labour Party supporter, wrote:
“EU report protest in Abuja is evidence that Tinubu and APC are living in the past. They are playing stupid outdated politics of hiring protest merchants.
“The presidential campaign should have taught them a lesson that hiring a crowd does not translate into popularity.”
A political economist, Dr Olu Fasan, wrote:
“Sponsored and politically motivated protests can’t discredit an independent report. Every objective observer knows Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election was deeply flawed and tainted.”
The Tinubu-led government had earlier rejected the exposition by the EU team, describing it as a ‘jaundiced report.’
