Kano rerun and the subjective EU election ibservation report

By Dr Kabiru Muhammad Umar

The disturbing raise of fake and false news has been alarming in recent years, and it has brought so many negative lamps to the political arena in the country. In the run off to the 2019 elections, Nigeria witnessed one of the most heated campaigns in the history of elections in the country – no thanks to the widespread use of fake and false news from all quarters of the polity.
It is therefore more disturbing and alarming when the spread of such news hits international crescendo with the recently released report of Kano Rerun election by the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM).
According to the subjective report, extensive electoral security problems were observed in some areas, with groups of men with weapons intimidating and obstructing the process, and security agencies ineffective at protecting citizens’ right to vote.
The report further stated that Extensive electoral security problems were observed in some areas, with groups of men with weapons intimidating and obstructing the process, and security agencies ineffective at protecting citizens’ right to vote,
To all intents and purposes, the EU observation report is truly subjective and unsatisfactory as part of the Independent observers, we were at about 57 polling units on the day of the rerun but there was no single hindrance to voters exercise by thugs – there were a few cases some rascals making troubles but those incidences were far away from the polling units to say the least.
Although I have, in my previous write ups, queried EU’s seeming obsession with the bad reports on anything to do with Kano, there is, I believe, sufficient reason for a robust warning to their observers of the need to be objective and always call spade a spade as I am sure if Abba Kabir of PDP had won the election it will be deemed free and fair election by the EU report.
It is now on the lips of every political enthusiast that the Kano rerun was marred, which is so sad that a few individuals and some few international organisations are dainting an exercise that brought about a good governor, who is love by all in his State.
The name-calling, casting of aspersions and the negative narrative of the rerun by EU is unacceptable and should be disregarded. Their reports mostly smack of bias and is capable of undermining the hard-won election by Governor Ganduje.
These false reports should not be allowed to demoralize the governor in the performance of his constitutional assignments.

Dr Umar wrote in from Kano