Festus Keyamo, a spokesperson for the defunct Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, has responded to the European Union Observer Mission (EUOM) 2023 general elections report, stating that it is not a document that can determine the winner of the election in Nigeria. Instead, Keyamo asserts that the report merely highlights the irregularities observed during the election and provides recommendations for improving future elections.
In the recent EUOM report, various flaws in the general election were identified, and recommendations were made to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, Keyamo, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), expressed his opinion on Twitter, emphasizing that irregularities are commonplace in elections worldwide.
Keyamo further explains that the critical factor is whether these irregularities significantly impacted the outcome of the election. He suggests that a forensic examination of the entire process by the judiciary is necessary to determine the extent to which the supposed irregularities affected the election results. Keyamo points out that there are already established legal rules in place to achieve this.
According to Keyamo, the EU's report does not determine the winner or loser of an election. Instead, it serves as a document that highlights the irregularities observed and provides recommendations to enhance future electoral processes. He emphasizes that the responsibility of legitimizing or delegitimizing the government of the day lies with the judiciary, not the EU report.
It is worth noting that INEC had previously declared Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election. However, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party are currently challenging Tinubu's victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
In summary, Keyamo asserts that the EUOM report does not determine the winner of the election but focuses on identifying irregularities and suggesting improvements for future elections. He emphasizes that the judiciary holds the power and responsibility to determine the impact of these irregularities on the election outcome.
