The release of the United States 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices has stirred controversy, with opposition parties expressing shock over its conclusion that the 2023 polls in Nigeria reflected the will of the people, despite widespread irregularities.
Both the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) voiced their disbelief at the report’s findings, emphasizing their commitment to deepening democracy in Nigeria and preventing the emergence of a one-party state.
Contrarily, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency welcomed the report but asserted that the party did not require external validation of its electoral victories.
The report, published by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour of the US Department of State, assessed human rights practices and violations in various countries, including Nigeria. It noted irregularities and incidents of voter suppression during the elections.
According to the report, supporters of the APC allegedly suppressed votes in Igbo-dominated areas during the March 2023 governorship election in Lagos, among other irregularities.
In response, LP and PDP reiterated their commitment to democracy in Nigeria despite its flaws, while APC emphasized its focus on developing the country’s electoral democracy and dismissed the need for external validation.
The Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, defended the integrity of the elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), dismissing claims of voter suppression in Lagos State.
