The European Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria has condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for failing to live up to expectations in the country’s electoral process.

The Chief Observer, European Union Election Observation Mission, Barry Andrews, in his preliminary statement on the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, said Nigerians yearned for democracy and were ready to be involved in democracy.

He, however, noted that the appetite was lost due to failures by the political elite and INEC.

He added that despite these improvements, polling on Election Day was disrupted by multiple incidents of thuggery and intimidation of voters, polling officials, observers, and journalists.

According to him, Lagos, Kano, and other states in the southern and central parts were the most affected. 

The second preliminary report of the union supplements the first report issued on February 27.