The U.S. Department of State’s 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Nigeria revealed a wide range of irregularities and hurdles encountered during the 2023 elections.
While conceding that the elections broadly mirrored the electorate’s will, the report underscored significant issues that tarnished the electoral process.
“Many independent observers assessing the results of the presidential, legislative, and state-level elections during the year reflected the will of voters, despite reports of voter suppression and vote buying, campaigning at polling stations, lack of ballot secrecy, violence, and intimidation,” the report noted.
Highlighting a specific incident during the March 18 state election in Lagos, the report elucidated, “During the March 18 state election in Lagos, All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters reportedly intimidated and suppressed voters in Igbo-dominated areas, which Labour Party presidential candidate and ethnically Igbo Peter Obi won in the February 25 national election.”
Viral videos circulating on social media depicted APC supporters in Ojo intimidating ethnic Igbo voters presumed to support Obi. In Eti-Osa, APC loyalists assaulted journalists and obstructed voting, barring non-Yoruba voters from accessing polls and vandalizing property in Amuwo-Odofin.
“According to videos posted on social media, police officers were present but failed to respond to attacks. There was no evidence that alleged perpetrators were arrested or prosecuted,” the report lamented.
This shows a lack of enforcement in curbing electoral malpractices.
Furthermore, the report emphasized the persistent underrepresentation of women and marginalized groups in Nigerian politics, citing religious, cultural, and economic barriers as contributing factors.
The report stressed that: “The national average of women’s political participation in Nigeria was 6.7 per cent in elected and appointed positions.”
It cites the formidable obstacles obstructing women’s engagement in political spheres.
A gender-based violence survey conducted by the NGO ElectHER during the 2023 elections exposed the active exploitation of religious and cultural barriers, including double standards, blackmail, and media smear campaigns, targeting women politicians.
Moreover, media outlets faced scrutiny for perpetuating stereotypes against women politicians and allegedly succumbing to directives from opposition officials and candidates, resulting in selective coverage of campaigns.
The report disclosed that “Media outlets stereotyped women politicians as ‘promiscuous’ or ‘cunning’ and in some cases refused to cover their campaigns allegedly on the orders of opposition officials and candidates.”