These findings were revealed in the EU's final report titled "Election Observation Mission Nigeria 2023," which was released on Tuesday.
According to the report, law enforcement agencies failed to take action against individuals who attacked, intimidated, harassed, or obstructed journalists before, during, and after the election days. The EU's observation mission confirmed multiple incidents involving the media, with several attacks occurring in the presence of the police.
In some cases, journalists who documented irregularities were detained by the police, while the attackers went unpunished. This highlights the lack of effective measures in place to protect media practitioners.
One notable incident highlighted in the report is a viral video from March 16, where Musiliu 'MC Oluomo' Akinsanya, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), threatened Igbos who did not vote for his party to stay indoors during the governorship election on March 18. The report states that APC thugs freely roamed the streets of Lagos, enforcing these threats and intimidating those who did not support the APC from exercising their right to vote.
Furthermore, the EU report refutes claims that the 2023 Nigerian elections were free and fair. It points out that the elections were marred by violence and bloodshed, with at least 74 people losing their lives in 101 violent incidents.
These revelations from the EU's final report raise concerns about the state of democracy and media freedom in Nigeria. The failure to address attacks on journalists and the overall violence during the elections undermines the credibility and integrity of the electoral process. The EU's findings call for urgent action to ensure the protection of journalists and to address the issues of violence and intimidation in future elections.