European Union (EU) observers on Wednesday submited a preliminary report of their election monitoring to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
But the EU Chief Observer Mission for the 2015 elections, Satiago Fisas refused to disclose the recommendations contained in the report.
He told journalists that two recommendations were contained therein and the final report would be presented to the incoming administration in July.
After meeting closed-door meeting with President Jonathan, Fisas who was responding to questions on whether any advice on how elections could be done better in the country than what happened in 2015 said the report to be presented in July would address that.
He noted that the country had a choice to accept or reject such recommendations.
He said, “I seized the opportunity to give to him (Jonathan)our preliminary report about the election. He was very happy and, of course, I will come back in July with the final statement at a press conference and to give it to the new president with our recommendations as would be contained in the final reports.
“That (recommendation on how to achieve improved elections) is contained in the report, so it is up to Nigerian government to accept or not to accept the recommendations.
“We are observers and we have made our recommendations and I don’t want to advance the final report that will be finished after the gubernatorial elections, when we can embark on new ideas with a new President.
“Probably that will be in July, then we will make recommendations public. But now we have only two recommendations”.
The observers lauded Nigerians for their resilience and for defying all odds to cast their votes, saying Nigerians had shown an exemple to Africa and other countries around the world
Fisas also congratulated President Jonathan for his role in ensuring peaceful, free , fair and crdible elections, adding that such examples of commitment and resilience were rare.
He said: “The elections are so important for the people of Nigeria, but is an African example for all Africa and countries in other parts of the world.
“You know many people didn’t expect that the elections will be peaceful, they expected a lot of violence after the elections but it turned out not to be true, and also I congratulate President Jonathan but I would like to congratulate Nigerian people because they showed a lot of commitment to that election.
“Not in all circumstances would you see such that, people stood in the sun for a very long time and hot day, despite some of the problems. Even at that, you were three , it shows that you Nigerians are truly democratic
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